13 posts
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Post by gskater on Sept 15, 2017 11:24:34 GMT
I'm very lucky to be performing in a rare amateur production of Starlight in November in Bournemouth. We have been licensed to perform the 2012 version of the show which was the last UK Tour. We have a whole lot of locamotion and I do.
We had to do it in November because of a new UK tour next year.
We are going one step further. We are building a racetrack around the stalls from the stage and will be doing live races.
We are proving a point to RUG that in the right venues you can still attempt some live racing.
I am seeing Starlight 2018 on Saturday which also happens to be my birthday so mega excited.
I'm playing Dustin. I hope he hasn't been cut as it's a great part to play.
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42 posts
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Post by graham on Sept 15, 2017 11:56:44 GMT
"Bulkworker" seemed the only out of date lyric left! Do they still exist?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 13:59:51 GMT
Speaking of Dustin, there was the moment when he came to Rusty's aid after he had been kicked out of the race, or attacked by some others. That could be the perfect place to bring back 'There's Me' Dustin having a crush on Rusty would be cute! I'd ship them and call them Dusty or Rustin
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1,644 posts
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Post by fiyero on Sept 15, 2017 14:06:05 GMT
I'm very lucky to be performing in a rare amateur production of Starlight in November in Bournemouth. We have been licensed to perform the 2012 version of the show which was the last UK Tour. We have a whole lot of locamotion and I do. When and where is the production on?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 14:32:22 GMT
Went last night and loved it!
Thought the staging by Arlene Phillips was fabulous - I guess this would fulfil "semi-staged" criteria but it was very creative and worked beautifully. The lighting was also great. Performed by a band who were on stage the score sounded wonderful. Re-orchestrated entirely for the better. The mix of an up to date sound but with those amazing 80's style electric drum noises I thought was inspired.
To the changes themselves - not that extensive. I Got Me is a new song that I liked. I Do of course is not new, but I think is underrated. It's a good 11 o'clock number. Crazy being moved to the start makes sense. Wide Smile is back - amazing to hear Caboose's song in English for first time since the 80s. Otherwise the changes were mainly small print.
Only negative - Girls Rolling Stock and Right Place Right Time both cut! Love them both. Also important for the non main characters to have a bit more action. Hope this is not a permanent change.
ALW said the thing about not recognising the score in Bochum. Odd as that production is managed to the n'th degree! Also the CD that came out for the 25th anniversary RUG took over a year to approve and Bochum has sounded identical (to me) since then. It's the orchestrations from the last UK tour. Strange!
Oh and the cast - amazing!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 14:34:49 GMT
Wonder if the rumours of another Kenwright tour next year are true? And if so will it be the 'new' version?
Surely if they were planning on a return to London, they wouldn't tour it next year??!
Who knows!
Forever hopeful - the life of the Starlight fan :-) !!!
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2,570 posts
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Post by viserys on Sept 15, 2017 15:32:56 GMT
ALW said the thing about not recognising the score in Bochum. Odd as that production is managed to the n'th degree! Also the CD that came out for the 25th anniversary RUG took over a year to approve and Bochum has sounded identical (to me) since then. It's the orchestrations from the last UK tour. Strange! I wonder if he was referring to the orchestra. When I revisited the show early this year after a long absence, I did notice the somewhat tinny noisy sound. I was a bit shocked to count only 12 or 13 orchestra members coming out onto the stage at the end of the performance to take their bows - back in the old days they were twice as many. The difference may not be as glaring as for shows that rely more on a classical sound (Phantom for example suffered very badly from cutting down the orchestra in Germany) but it's still an audible difference.
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2,763 posts
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Post by daniel on Sept 15, 2017 15:38:35 GMT
Wonder if the rumours of another Kenwright tour next year are true? And if so will it be the 'new' version? Surely if they were planning on a return to London, they wouldn't tour it next year??! Who knows! Forever hopeful - the life of the Starlight fan :-) !!! At the moment it has dates for the second half of 2018. Not yet confirmed though so anything could happen.
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Post by d'James on Sept 15, 2017 22:31:38 GMT
Well I was there tonight. Spoilers, obvs.
There were quite a few empty seats. I wonder if the attack on the train earlier put people off.
It was good. I liked the way they'd integrated Crazy a bit more. It's a shame to have lost the melody of Engine of Love/He Whistled At Me altogether.
I was never going to love the new song. It's OK. At the end of the first half I didn't like it and by the end of the second half I'd grown to like it and then was sick of it as they really overused it.
I'm a bit disappointed they didn't go back and find songs from Starlight's past and see if they could reuse them rather than a new song, but they always seem to like shoving in a new song.
The new characters were fine although terribly underused. They really need a Girls Rolling Stock moment. That should be put back in or maybe the new song could go there instead.
I get that the ensemble actors were playing multiple roles, but it annoyed me when Volta(r? it sounded like he pronounced it with an 'r.') changed gender halfway through act one and when the actor playing Espresso changed.
Mica Paris was fantastic but I wish they'd replaced Poppa's Blues rather than just turning it into Momma's Blues. I think they should rewritten Belle the Sleeping Car with words about Momma instead.
Dustin was my favourite and I loved Dinah's boots.
I didn't like the references to the real world much, mentioning people like Bjork wasn't right.
I think the way Pearl was played worked in this production but wouldn't in the show proper. I'll probably think of more things to add later.
I know it sounds negative above but it was a great night.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 23:13:49 GMT
Glad you enjoyed it d'james. So many questions... Was the overused song 'I Got Me'? It was only used once on Wednesday. Is Electra still in those red heels? Is the opening of Act 2 a new or old song? I wasnt sure. Wish i could go back tomorrow
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 23:19:39 GMT
I'm kinda glad I don't know the score or book or anything at all about this show, so going into it tomorrow for me, its just going to be watching a brand new musical!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 23:32:28 GMT
You don't know the score AT ALL ??
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Post by Deleted on Sept 15, 2017 23:38:57 GMT
You don't know the score AT ALL ?? Nope. Not a single song, lyric or note. Here is my knowlage of the show... skates and it was at the Apollo Victoria.
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Post by d'James on Sept 16, 2017 0:07:59 GMT
Glad you enjoyed it d'james. So many questions... Was the overused song 'I Got Me'? It was only used once on Wednesday. Is Electra still in those red heels? Is the opening of Act 2 a new or old song? I wasnt sure. Wish i could go back tomorrow Yes I Got Me. Momma sang it before a race, Dinah sang it when disconnecting Electra, they all sang it to celebrate Rusty winning instead of the usual 'well done Rusty, King of the track.' I think it was used more times. As I said, it's a shame not to have the melody of Engine of Love (the first song written for the show) in there at all. As for The Rap, it was mainly based on the 1992 one lyric wise. It tells more of a story than It's Race Time did/does but the 1984 one really furthers the story best. They should look at updating that. I liked the fact it was a capella with just stamping feet but I don't see how that would work on skates. I liked the added bits in Right Place, Right Time. Momma seemed to have less to do in this production. I guess it's because she wasn't in The Rap.
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Post by stagebyte on Sept 16, 2017 1:25:16 GMT
No 'Only He' 😢 When did that one bite the dust? Like a good old warble to that one in the shower Was disappointed to see that missing. The band was incredible although very loud towards the back of the aud - a lady next to us sat very ostentatiously holding her ears during much of the first act and didn't return for the second. Really enjoyable night. Couldn't believe how much I remembered from the OLC recording. Mica sublime Electra and Greaseball incredibly strong. Pearl felt underused somehow. Did she have a bigger role / more to sing in the original? Story a little confusing towards the end. It seemed Pearl suddenly realised she liked Rusty once he stopped being a 'loser' and won? Might've just got lost a little in the minimal staging.
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1,445 posts
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Post by steve10086 on Sept 16, 2017 11:34:11 GMT
It's a shame to have lost the melody of Engine of Love/He Whistled At Me altogether. It was there very briefly (at least on Friday night) - a few lines sung to that tune by Pearl just before 'Make Up My Heart'. When I heard it I got my hopes up for a full song, but it wasn't to be. Only negative - Girls Rolling Stock and Right Place Right Time both cut! 'Right Place Right Time' was in on Friday. I wonder how many songs are dropped in and out at each performance. Wish I could have seen them all! Speaking of Dustin, there was the moment when he came to Rusty's aid after he had been kicked out of the race, or attacked by some others. That could be the perfect place to bring back 'There's Me' Dustin having a crush on Rusty would be cute! I like this idea... though I may have been influenced by the fact that both actors were super cute In a really impressive cast I thought Mica Paris was the weak link. She had the least to do and yet managed to be the only one who messed up. Everyone else was fantastic. 'I Got Me' wasn't great, but I'm glad to see the back of 'Whole Lotta Locomotion' (though best case scenario would be 'A Lotta Locomotion' reinstated). Apart from the races (lights go out and Control says "you gotta use your imagination") I was very impressed (and pleased as an ALW fan) that the show was a great piece of entertainment without the costumes, the staging... and the skates!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 11:51:17 GMT
Totally agree Steve. No skates, very simple costumes, minimal set with the band on stage. But some very creative staging by Arlene Phillips and fab lighting and really was a wonderful evening's entertainment.
Testimony IMO to what a wonderful show Starlight is at it's core. I also love the story. Simple but uplifting.
Best £25 I've spent on theatre for ages!
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Post by d'James on Sept 16, 2017 11:53:38 GMT
I have to say, steve10086 that I've grown to love A Whole Lotta Locomotion. I hated it on the first tour but the reworking on the 2012-13 tour made it very poppy and fun. Of course it has nothing to do with the story. I think that's the same with I Got Me. It's a good pop song which means nothing to the show. At least with A Whole Lotta Locomotion once it was finished you didn't hear it again until the Megamix. You hear I Got Me far too much. It's also the same with I Do, a nice enough pop song but nothing to do with the story, at least with Next Time You Fall In Love they said the word Starlight even if the context wasn't great. I think with I Do and I Got Me they feel like they were already written and plonked into the show rather than having the lyrics be written specifically for the show.
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131 posts
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Post by blobble84 on Sept 16, 2017 11:54:44 GMT
I really liked the kid (Control) on the ipad rather than just hearing a voice. I can just imagine it in a big theatre / arena with a tiny figure high above the stage. It would make it feel even more spectacular that everything was happening in his vivid imagination. And well done to the kid for such professionalism - some of this friends were clearly in last night and their dad kept yellling his name really loudly before the show started, but he didn't even acknowledge!
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136 posts
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Post by Lemansky on Sept 16, 2017 16:00:43 GMT
Glad Right Place Right Time was back in. I saw it on Thursday & really felt like it should have been there so mentioned it on the questionnaire. Wish I was seeing it again tonight to see any other changes etc.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 16:20:36 GMT
So Right Place Right Time cut again this afternoon! No idea why as had been staged brilliantly on Friday.....
Otherwise it was fabulous!
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Post by d'James on Sept 16, 2017 16:26:10 GMT
So Right Place Right Time cut again this afternoon! No idea why as had been staged brilliantly on Friday..... Otherwise it was fabulous! Interesting. I wonder why they cut it again. I liked the new 'rap' verse in it.
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2,785 posts
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Post by ceebee on Sept 16, 2017 16:33:35 GMT
Excellent workshop this afternoon. Great cast. Nice to see the good Lord. My daughters loved it - one said it's now her favourite show. It's easy to forget how damn good this show is - updated lyrics are great,revised score is more modern, band were fantastic. Contrary to other comments, I thought Mica Paris was fine. Very strong cast. Deserves a full reimagining. 25 quid was a steal for the quality. As ALW said at the interval: "It's just a little workshop...".
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 16:36:47 GMT
So Right Place Right Time cut again this afternoon! No idea why as had been staged brilliantly on Friday..... Otherwise it was fabulous! Interesting. I wonder why they cut it again. I liked the new 'rap' verse in it. Me too was fab :-) They'd clearly put some work into it and it went down well!
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Post by d'James on Sept 16, 2017 16:42:57 GMT
Did anyone notice how slow Rolling Stock was? Even Pumping Iron was a bit slower I think.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 16:46:28 GMT
Did anyone notice how slow Rolling Stock was? Even Pumping Iron was a bit slower I think. Very much so! Thought was way too slow the first time but on going again I quite liked it. Though (at the risk of sounding like a broken record) would be even better contrasted against an uptempo Girl's Rolling Stock in Act 2!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 16:48:05 GMT
Was great this afternoon. I have never lsitened to any of the music, or had any idea of the story, so have no idea about any of the changes...but I loved it.
George Ure was definitely the highlight, after only ever seeing him as Boq, I had no idea he had such a good voice.
Hoping this actually leads to something bigger, cause I am now in love with this show.
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Post by d'James on Sept 16, 2017 16:51:29 GMT
Did anyone notice how slow Rolling Stock was? Even Pumping Iron was a bit slower I think. Very much so! Thought was way too slow the first time but on going again I quite liked it. Though (at the risk of sounding like a broken record) would be even better contrasted against an uptempo Girl's Rolling Stock in Act 2! So true. They could even have used Momma in Girls' Rolling Stock like Belle on the OLC. I know she's an engine but it shouldn't matter. They had new lyrics for it in Bochum for the English show so why not use them for the workshop. It's only two and a half minutes long and it's a shame for the characters.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 17:00:05 GMT
Very much so! Thought was way too slow the first time but on going again I quite liked it. Though (at the risk of sounding like a broken record) would be even better contrasted against an uptempo Girl's Rolling Stock in Act 2! So true. They could even have used Momma in Girls' Rolling Stock like Belle on the OLC. I know she's an engine but it shouldn't matter. They had new lyrics for it in Bochum for the English show so why not use them for the workshop. It's only two and a half minutes long and it's a shame for the characters. They did indeed! And yup it's so short and so many of the fans love it! Was not in the original tours but was back in the most recent one. Funny you were at the English show; reckon we must have been at a few Starlights together without realising!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2017 17:40:01 GMT
I'll write my thoughts later, but the highlight of the show was easily Mica scrambling along the back of the stage whilst someone was singing, looking for some throat soothers and popping them at the back of the stage. I wont get that image out of my head anytime soon! 😅
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