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Post by Being Alive on Jun 13, 2024 11:24:15 GMT
I did think this was poorly constructed I'm afraid, and it really does rely on the spectacle to do a lot of the heavy lifting.
I think the score is really weak, with probably 2 'bangers' (but I'd even use that term loosely.) and I cannot agree that this has a plot better than millions of musicals - as a poster above says, it makes Cats look like Chekhov!
Not to sound negative - it's EXACTLY what I expected it to be, and by the looks of the audience reaction exactly what they wanted it to be, so they're evidently doing something right!
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Post by andypandy on Jun 13, 2024 11:34:29 GMT
Never left my thoughts after the first preview, but as I'm one of the people who doesn't like the 1 star reviews with no comments or feedback left, I better give my thoughts since I'm one of the 5 star voters. I saw Starlight Express for the first time when I was about 10 on the UK tour. Whilst I appreciate this probably wasn't Starlight Express in its greatest form, it was the show that made me fall in love with Musical Theatre. Whatever anyone really thinks of this new version, it will definitely appeal to children and so I hope it inspires similar children with this production like it did with me 20 odd years ago. I absolutely loved this, and whilst I'm not trying to argue the show is fantastically written or the story is great, the score is really brilliant, and I love this production. It feels so immersive, the whole thing like a fever dream, but we are essentially in a child's imagination so I think the bright colours and OTT costumes really work. I think for the most part the cast are really great, some still trying to find their confidence on skates but some are real pro's, and a lot of very strong voices and performances in the cast. I saw it again last night, and there were a couple of minor changes to staging and lighting in a couple of numbers but nothing too major so far. 5 stars from me, as I loved the whole experience, and will definitely be back many more times. Would love to hear from some of the 1 star voters, as it's amazing to me that you wouldn't be able to find SOMETHING in this production to at least raise it to 2 stars, even if you hated it. Always interesting to hear some detailed feedback rather than just a star rating if anyone wants to share  There is a lot of chat about the new show from those who have done the show before. Those who have appeared in various productions (or several of them) and who have lived and breathed the story, characters for years of their lives (while also working with the creatives to know the mindset, subtext and idea of the piece) - those from the original Apollo Vic production, Bochum, Vegas, Broadway, UK/US/NZ tours etc. The general opinion is one of great disappointment over this new Troubadour London production. In the mid/late 2000's ALW wanted to recreate the arena Bochum/German production and stage it in Battersea Power House. Sadly this never happened - of course it was completely renovated to the new site we have today. For the past 20 years various ideas have been thrown around and discussed while staging several UK tours including even staging the famous tent tour in the UK using a TV reality show competition to cast Rusty and Pearl was discussed around 2011/12. The main disappointment with this new staging is the lack of skating, the feeble races, no bridge and the costumes. Starlight IS the skating. Period. When the Troubadour new show was announced there was great excitement from everyone who had been involved with the show before. However the new creatives managed to make the stage far smaller than expected, made it look like a TV studio meet Jetson's immersive experience (Starlight never looked like this) and took what could have been a great space (hello Newsies) and created a cramped, awkward toy town sci fi version of the show. The races just don't work. The skating is poor and no months of settling in will change the timings and flow. Regarding the bridge, I'm aware this is due to weight issues but overall this comes down to cost. The bridge created a multi level production experience that without it, makes the show look visually weak. imagine Phantom with no chandelier? The costumes in this production are one of the biggest issues. The bulky cumbersome paddings mean the performers lose all lines and identity, they will be extremely bulky to dance and skate in - and you cannot tell what each character is meant to be. They are childish, too futuristic, clunky and badly designed clearly not by someone who had skated. Personally I don't like some of the new songs and turning Greaseball into an offensive Diesel dyke is actually offensive - but the cast are talented, it's great to have Starlight back - though sadly it's a three star production of what could be a five star (light) dream. This show was once magical and gave goosebumps at every corner. Now it's just a childhood dream set in space with a cramped set. Yes Starlight is fluff, yes it has a better story than Cats, yes the new show is welcomed - BUT it's such a missed opportunity. |
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Post by d'James on Jun 13, 2024 11:38:30 GMT
I don’t want to start an argument, but Starlight has a much better/stronger plot that Cats.
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3,486 posts
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Post by ceebee on Jun 13, 2024 12:00:36 GMT
I don't know what other people's circumstances are, but for me it is the pure nostalgia of being able to take my children to see a show I saw as a child. To see their joy and amazement at the sheer nonsense of it all. I don't think we need to deconstruct Starlight Express. It is a show that Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote for his children. It is something that bonds generations, triggers memories, evokes emotion. I was amazed at how moved/touched I was at a few moments last Sunday, and then I realised that it is that old thing of sentiment and nostalgia. Remembering what it is to be a child with child like curiosity and imagination. I have been lucky that I have been able to maintain that curious creativity through my work as an adult, but I never knew that would be the case as a child. As a parent, I looked at my children and wondered "What will you become? What dreams will you bring to life?" I don't think anybody needs to expect too much from Starlight Express or take it too literally, but to me the show is about hope and love, the journey we allow our imagination to take us on. There is now something generational about Starlight Express - a passing on of the baton. Rather like "The Snowman" at Christmas, it unlocks something deep within us all. Or, at least, it does for me.
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Post by Being Alive on Jun 13, 2024 12:03:52 GMT
You're totally right ceebee - I got about 25 minutes in and was like 'theres no point trying to review this in the normal way I review theatre' so I just accepted it for what it was and enjoyed watching people have a nice time. Besides, it's a hit at the box office regardless of what anyone says 😂 |
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Post by Jon on Jun 13, 2024 12:06:42 GMT
The only thing that could improve SE is if they did a preshow that is inspired by the cutaway spoof of the show they did on Family Guy.
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Post by greatauntedna on Jun 13, 2024 13:20:23 GMT
The revolve wasn’t used as well as it could’ve been. There was one bit where the model trains went round and Control sat down too, which spoiled it in my eyes. Went again last night and this has since been changed. Control last night just stood in the centre holding the toy train. A shame, as I think the best fix would have been control stood in the middle with the two toy trains on the revolve. Will maybe still change again during previews. What didn’t you like about Control sat down? |
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Post by d'James on Jun 13, 2024 13:45:46 GMT
Went again last night and this has since been changed. Control last night just stood in the centre holding the toy train. A shame, as I think the best fix would have been control stood in the middle with the two toy trains on the revolve. Will maybe still change again during previews. What didn’t you like about Control sat down? I thought the trains going round was like a trainset, then control sitting down broke the illusion. |
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Post by thecursedexpress on Jun 13, 2024 14:06:18 GMT
Starlight Express is a lot of fun and is a spectacle but the plot makes Cats look like Chekhov. I wonder if the slow skating is a health and safety thing? The audience was having a blast and evidently not bothered that it doesn't make one iota of sense, so like I figure they'll be fine. Wondered the same about the skating but Hydrogen can really skate fast, so I don't think it is, they just need to speed up because the races could be spectacular and at the moment they're....not. Jaydon who plays Hydra is one of the more confident skaters as he did the show in Bochum. I feel over time they will get faster as if he can be quick, I bet the others will as well. Tbh most of the swings have done Bochum so when they go on they probably be faster and more confident. |
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Post by greatauntedna on Jun 13, 2024 14:38:11 GMT
What didn’t you like about Control sat down? I thought the trains going round was like a trainset, then control sitting down broke the illusion. So couldn’t it be a train set with a child sat in the middle? |
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Post by FJ on Jun 13, 2024 14:50:59 GMT
I thought the trains going round was like a trainset, then control sitting down broke the illusion. So couldn’t it be a train set with a child sat in the middle? I think the issue isn't sitting vs standing. It's that maybe control shouldn't be revolving with the trains, as that's what breaks the illusion. Control should be stationary with the trains revolving/giving the impression they're going round the track. |
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Post by d'James on Jun 13, 2024 14:52:08 GMT
So couldn’t it be a train set with a child sat in the middle? I think the issue isn't sitting vs standing. It's that maybe control shouldn't be revolving with the trains, as that's what breaks the illusion. Control should be stationary with the trains revolving/giving the impression they're going round the track. Exactly this! |
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Post by showtoones on Jun 13, 2024 15:23:17 GMT
I don't know what other people's circumstances are, but for me it is the pure nostalgia of being able to take my children to see a show I saw as a child. To see their joy and amazement at the sheer nonsense of it all. I don't think we need to deconstruct Starlight Express. It is a show that Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote for his children. It is something that bonds generations, triggers memories, evokes emotion. I was amazed at how moved/touched I was at a few moments last Sunday, and then I realised that it is that old thing of sentiment and nostalgia. Remembering what it is to be a child with child like curiosity and imagination. I have been lucky that I have been able to maintain that curious creativity through my work as an adult, but I never knew that would be the case as a child. As a parent, I looked at my children and wondered "What will you become? What dreams will you bring to life?" I don't think anybody needs to expect too much from Starlight Express or take it too literally, but to me the show is about hope and love, the journey we allow our imagination to take us on. There is now something generational about Starlight Express - a passing on of the baton. Rather like "The Snowman" at Christmas, it unlocks something deep within us all. Or, at least, it does for me. Thank you for sharing these beautiful thoughts. Sometimes there doesn't need to be a deep message...something can just evoke emotions and be fun. |
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Post by benj on Jun 13, 2024 15:42:04 GMT
I can unfortunately no longer make it to the show tonight and I have a ticket in platform 2, row c section if anyone could make it there tonight! Just message me and I can send you the ticket details. Free to someone who will definitely use it…
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Post by thecursedexpress on Jun 13, 2024 15:42:29 GMT
So couldn’t it be a train set with a child sat in the middle? I think the issue isn't sitting vs standing. It's that maybe control shouldn't be revolving with the trains, as that's what breaks the illusion. Control should be stationary with the trains revolving/giving the impression they're going round the track. I loved the show but having a child play Control did break the illusion of this is a child's dream. I thought they would be in it at the start and end and the rest just a voiceover. Just seeing the child actor bounce about with no skates and goes on a scooter once isn't great. |
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Post by BVM on Jun 13, 2024 15:51:37 GMT
I think the issue isn't sitting vs standing. It's that maybe control shouldn't be revolving with the trains, as that's what breaks the illusion. Control should be stationary with the trains revolving/giving the impression they're going round the track. I loved the show but having a child play Control did break the illusion of this is a child's dream. I thought they would be in it at the start and end and the rest just a voiceover. Just seeing the child actor bounce about with no skates and goes on a scooter once isn't great. Yes I struggled with the breaking of said illusion considerably the first time I saw it but had mellowed to Control being on stage the second time! |
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Post by greatauntedna on Jun 13, 2024 16:05:02 GMT
I can unfortunately no longer make it to the show tonight and I have a ticket in platform 2, row c section if anyone could make it there tonight! Just message me and I can send you the ticket details. Free to someone who will definitely use it… I’ve messaged you! |
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Post by benj on Jun 13, 2024 16:11:01 GMT
I can unfortunately no longer make it to the show tonight and I have a ticket in platform 2, row c section if anyone could make it there tonight! Just message me and I can send you the ticket details. Free to someone who will definitely use it… I’ve messaged you! All yours - enjoy! |
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3,486 posts
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Post by ceebee on Jun 13, 2024 16:29:07 GMT
I don't know what other people's circumstances are, but for me it is the pure nostalgia of being able to take my children to see a show I saw as a child. To see their joy and amazement at the sheer nonsense of it all. I don't think we need to deconstruct Starlight Express. It is a show that Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote for his children. It is something that bonds generations, triggers memories, evokes emotion. I was amazed at how moved/touched I was at a few moments last Sunday, and then I realised that it is that old thing of sentiment and nostalgia. Remembering what it is to be a child with child like curiosity and imagination. I have been lucky that I have been able to maintain that curious creativity through my work as an adult, but I never knew that would be the case as a child. As a parent, I looked at my children and wondered "What will you become? What dreams will you bring to life?" I don't think anybody needs to expect too much from Starlight Express or take it too literally, but to me the show is about hope and love, the journey we allow our imagination to take us on. There is now something generational about Starlight Express - a passing on of the baton. Rather like "The Snowman" at Christmas, it unlocks something deep within us all. Or, at least, it does for me. Thank you for sharing these beautiful thoughts. Sometimes there doesn't need to be a deep message...something can just evoke emotions and be fun. Thank you, that's very kind! |
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3,486 posts
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Post by ceebee on Jun 13, 2024 16:31:16 GMT
Quite literally, rolling stock... Nice gesture! |
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Post by thecursedexpress on Jun 13, 2024 16:55:47 GMT
The only thing that does bother me is the venue at Troubadour is small but they do a good job with the limited space effect wise. If the rumours are true that the theatre is going to get demolished next year (as I have heard rumblings of, take it with a pinch of salt). Move it to the Dominion Theatre would be good for a West End transfer if they wanted to do a Apollo Victoria equivalent.
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Post by happysooz2 on Jun 13, 2024 17:04:47 GMT
I’ve now got FOMO for not booking this. Could anyone who has been share thoughts on where to sit that won’t break the bank?
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Post by 141920grm on Jun 13, 2024 17:05:36 GMT
The only thing that does bother me is the venue at Troubadour is small but they do a good job with the limited space effect wise. If the rumours are true that the theatre is going to get demolished next year (as I have heard rumblings of, take it with a pinch of salt). Move it to the Dominion Theatre would be good for a West End transfer if they wanted to do a Apollo Victoria equivalent. extend the ramps down to TCR and the cast can roll straight home! |
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Post by d'James on Jun 13, 2024 17:09:16 GMT
I’ve now got FOMO for not booking this. Could anyone who has been share thoughts on where to sit that won’t break the bank? I liked where I sat in Row U near the back. |
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Post by ceebee on Jun 13, 2024 17:18:12 GMT
I’ve now got FOMO for not booking this. Could anyone who has been share thoughts on where to sit that won’t break the bank? Go for front row trackside seats or front row platform/locomotive sections. After that first class carriages, platform seats first four rows. If you want to spend less try locomotive middle / side seats. If flexible look at website for last minute dynamic deals. |
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