Starlight Express - Troubadour

Because a friend has a dog called Rhusty and it's muscle memory at this point? 🤷‍♀️ I see typos in every thread on the board and usually don't assign deep meanings to them...

I enjoyed it! Mainly for the arrangements. I REALLY want it to do well and succeed. I feel so old. And I hate to go on about the Apollo Victoria and Bochum production-BUT if you look at the speed of the races and the original choreography- especially the content of the choreography, this new London production just isn’t quite up to that standard in my opinion. The step digs with overhead clapping looked a bit basic and rushed. The switching of genders didn’t bother me. But there is a lack of full out showbiz glam that the show needs to cover the lack of story.
Electra moved with such fluid energy in the original. Where as this Electra is a very still drag queen. Nothing wrong with that of course. However, it smacks of a performing arts college production. You forget how a few years experience on a performer changes the vibe of a show. This director is obsessed with youth. This Starlight has health and safety-and a lack of time in skate school front and centre. Whereas the original had edge, ridiculously amazing skaters and phenomenal singers. In the original- Pearl was a mixture of A Royal Ballet dancer on skates-with a Mariah Carey vocal in Marissa Dunlop and many others. Here we get an unsteady skater who looks terrified. But I’m sure she will improve. It’s early days. The goosebumps for the Momma and Rusty duet didn’t come in the same way with Poppa and Rusty. I would say it doesn’t quite sit right vocally. So many great songs missing. Again, I want the show to do well but Bochum is the place to be for OG Starlight fans. Arlene just knows what the show needs and she hires the right team around her to make it work. To think we could watch the original for a fiver! I am really excited to hear from people who have never seen the original who are looking at the show with fresh eyes. Maybe I’m just too attached to the show that made me fall in love with musical theatre.

I can't fault this as a spectacle. There isn't a lot of plot, even compared to (say) Cats, but it's relatively easy to follow. I'm sure there are some subplot details I missed, like why we were routing for Rusty in the first place, why steam is best, and not knowing the plot too well, I did rather expect Rusty to end up with one of the non-binary engines, but it doesn't really matter. There is skating and spectacle.

My Rush ticket for the matinee was in First Class Carriage 4, back row, an absolutely perfect seat to take everything in, although there are some skaters directly behind you who I'm sure are trying to see how close they can risk getting to you without hitting you in the back of the head. Carriages 1 and 4 are much better raked than 2 and 3. A man near me with two young boys was incredibly excited to see the show. The boys seemed to enjoy it, but they didn't quite share his level of enthusiasm.

Jaydon Vijn is the clear standout as a skater. He does all kinds of tricks and moves that no one else attempts, and you get the impression he is holding back. It helps that the two people who kept catching my eye were both wearing green, but there are a lot of recent graduates in the cast, and being near the front I could work out who several of them were, even with the costumes and make-up.

The songs are enjoyable. There's more rap than I expected. For a lot of this, I was close enough to tell it was being sung live, but there was the occasional sound oddity. It's unusual to not have screens up around the building showing the conductor. The skating quality is very impressive to me as someone who can barely stay standing up wearing skates, but there were some scrapes. One of the skaters lost the cloth part of a small flag she was waving, another skater tried to pick this up, grabbed it, and just managed to avoid going over. It does make me wonder how they deal with the inevitable times when skating goes wrong.

Overall, very much enjoyed it. So nice to have a reason to go to Wembley. There are a few points where I do hope they can speed things up a bit and add a few tricks, but this is all coming along well. I'll be back when an affordable option appears.

Ok I am so disappointed in this production, the lack of artistry when it comes to the entire show is weak I can only
compare it to a slightly higher budget college production. The skating is a huge let down. Yes I know they had huge
boots to fill with the original and German productions. But I question why this show was even thought if they did
not have excitement that taking this show on requires.

I am getting very bored of watching the work of this director. Yes his one hit wonder in '& Juliet' was enjoyable, but
everything since has been a huge let down and this once again he delivers that disappointment. I can only think
what Jamie Lloyd or Alex Timbers would have done with it? now that would of been Starlight Express I would of
loved to of seen.

What Arlene Phillips created originally was exhilarating, a spectacle and so ahead if it's time, this time it feels dated.  

I am sad to write this because I wanted it to work so well.

I am sure it will gather its fans (with Sheppards casting of the young will make this a social media a hit) And I wish it
well, it just wasn't for me.

 
 

I think one hit wonder is a little unfair. Things don’t necessarily have to be long runners to be of quality. 

His ‘Rent’ at Hope Mill was absolutely electrifying, and I’d agree that ‘& Juliet’ is pretty special too.

Agree, his Rent was absolutely amazing!

It seemed to be a "no" yesterday. I did spot a couple of people grabbing some quiet photos of the bows, but no obvious filming in the sections near me.

Bonkers that so many people get away with it if this is the official line!

The official line is "yes"!  Before the show yesterday in the carriage sections our front of house person came and introduced herself and said that we couldn't leave until the interval unless it is an emergency situation due to the tracks etc.  They also said no photography or filming at any point UNTIL the megamix, where she said "you are more than welcome to film and take photos".  As a result, I filmed the entire megamix.  

Boooo to mrbarnaby the killjoy train...