Never Let Go
Michael Kinnan's love letter to the '97 epic left me wheezing with laughter
Never Let Go is a one-man show that condenses James Cameron’s three-plus-hour 1997 epic into a glorious, uproariously one-hour romp.
Cutting a figure-clenching corset, Michael Kinnan boasts a dashing androgyny, complete with lipstick and fake eyelashes, tight black pants and a white shirt emerging from a laced corset, allowing him to play each character simultaneously.
It’s abridged but performed almost word-for-word, which makes the masterful switching between characters even more impressive. In one scene, he seamlessly embodies Jack’s breezy confidence, Rose’s coquettish charm, and Cal’s dastardly arrogance, never missing a beat.
The sparse set – mostly a folding chair, a bucket of water and a Heart of the Ocean necklace – neither detracts nor distracts from the impressive accuracy of his reenactment. Rather, you find yourself falling further into Kinnan’s captivating, multifaceted performance.
But Never Let Go isn’t just a tribute act, although it is, and it isn’t just very funny, although it is. It’s heartfelt. Every memorable moment is there – the dining room scene, flying on the bow (or folding chair), the steerage dance, and yes, the hand slapping the steamy window – and in every scene, Kinnan breathes newfound life, capturing every nuance and heartbeat of the screenplay.
At the halfway point, the room suddenly brightens as Kinnan breaks character, leaving the audience momentarily puzzled. He walks to the back of the stage, ejects a VHS tape of Titanic, and inserts the second one. Instantly, he snaps back into character right at the familiar starting point of the film’s second half. As the reference clicked, I could barely control myself. Within a minute, I found myself wheezing for air. And I wasn’t the only one.
By now, the sold-out audience understood exactly what had happened, and we could barely contain ourselves; people wiped away tears of laughter whilst others grabbed their partners in a state of hysterics. One even fell from their chair to their knees, unable to catch their breath.
My friend grabbed my leg, then my arm, looked me dead in the eyes and exclaimed, “oh my god! The VHS!” as we descended into uncontrollable laughter that lasted way longer than I think Kinnan intended it to.
Funny as it was, the true genius here lies in the interpretation of the story and characters, which are embodied with such passion and precision that it works regardless of whether you’ve seen the film.
For fans of Cameron’s film, it’s emotional and moving in an entirely unexpected way. There’s a sparkle in his eye that invites you to fall in love all over again, embracing each moment of the 1997 phenomenon and recapturing the emotions that catapulted Titanic to become the biggest hit of all time.
If there’s a flaw to be found here, it lies in the pacing and setup. The introduction, featuring a slideshow of Titanic moments, feels unnecessary. Given the limited time for the play, I found myself wishing we could have jumped straight into the action.
Still, by the time you’ve caught up with the breathless star at the end of the play, now complete with water dripping from his absurd eyelashes, belting out My Heart Will Go On in a final tribute to Celine Dion, you’ll be too captivated to know, or care, whether you’re in tune (you’re probably not).
Never Let Go is a masterful, grin-so-much-it-hurts tribute to the film the world can’t let go of. It’s as hilarious as it is technically impressive, and Kinnan is simply a revelation.
★★★★★