433 posts
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Post by alison on Aug 30, 2017 19:46:43 GMT
Wooot, I got the last ticket for the Saturday matinee!  I was on holiday when this was announced and sold out, so I was miffed to miss it. The London production was the first West End show I saw (summer 1999 with Adrian Hansel as Rusty). |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2017 23:37:15 GMT
Having just been down a rabbit hole of Starlight songs on you tube (where does the time go when I'm on youtube??) I take back what i said earlier, Crazy is the worst new song that they added.
I understand why they cut Ashley, Belle just slowed the whole thing down and didnt add anything to the story, of what there was of a story, but CB should have stayed as the villan. I'm really excited to see what new things they have in store.
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353 posts
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Post by cirque on Aug 31, 2017 9:50:19 GMT
i do think its odd that we talk today about immersive theatre as if this has just been discovered.Of course Starlight Express was a great piece of immersive work and sittting in Front Circle at Apollo Victoria a thrilling experience.Go back also to Astley,Restoration and Jacobean Masque....it has always been a feature of innovative theatre artists to seek ways of immersing the audience.Hope Starlight does emerge from the new workshops with tour potential on large scale...extended stays in found spaces.One can only hope...be better than a pros tour with screens etc.Never really excited about that revival./
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Aug 31, 2017 10:38:48 GMT
I too was hoping that the workshops may lead to a fully-staged arena-style event, however I'm hearing that the Kenwright version is going out on tour again next year, which will put a stop to any arena show I reckon  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2017 10:52:35 GMT
I too was hoping that the workshops may lead to a fully-staged arena-style event, however I'm hearing that the Kenwright version is going out on tour again next year, which will put a stop to any arena show I reckon Out come the screens and projectors then |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2017 10:56:54 GMT
I too was hoping that the workshops may lead to a fully-staged arena-style event, however I'm hearing that the Kenwright version is going out on tour again next year, which will put a stop to any arena show I reckon Interesting. Though surely there must be something bigger planned - can't see them doing these workshops just to update the Kenwright tour (which incidentally wasn't conceived by Kenwright - is pretty much a replica of the previous tour). So either they are thinking of a new West End version. Or they are thinking of Bochum updates for it's 30th there next year. But yes, I agree arena tour very unlikely. Mainly I assume due to cost/return. With a commercial hat on (showBUSINESS and all) the UK tours have all been close to sell outs - so there's no incentive to spend any more money. Does anyone remember the 1st year of the original tour? That did longer sit downs at the larger touring theatres. Set was a bowl which moved to reveal entrances etc and also gave two level staging. There was a 'lollipop' track extending into centre stalls. Screen for 3D races was bigger than subsequent tours (which were actually pretty good then as a reflection of noughties technology) and star field of LEDs for I Am The Starlight was deeper and more spectacular. It was a great solution to touring Starlight and I have really fond memories of it. Jane Horn and James Gillan lead a great cast. Re the races, we have to be realistic that theatres up and down the country can't be gutted to put tracks in. 3D technology has moved on though and I think UPDATED 3D races probably remains the best way of bringing Starlight to the regions. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2017 11:01:13 GMT
Maybe they should consider a tent tour, like the Australian "Cats." That way they would have total control of the auditorium layout all the time, easily putting in race tracks among seats - and could also visit places that don't usually get theatre. That's an amazing idea! Cats also did this in Germany I think. Though again would need significant investment! |
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Post by danb on Aug 31, 2017 11:34:49 GMT
i do think its odd that we talk today about immersive theatre as if this has just been discovered.Of course Starlight Express was a great piece of immersive work and sittting in Front Circle at Apollo Victoria a thrilling experience.Go back also to Astley,Restoration and Jacobean Masque....it has always been a feature of innovative theatre artists to seek ways of immersing the audience.Hope Starlight does emerge from the new workshops with tour potential on large scale...extended stays in found spaces.One can only hope...be better than a pros tour with screens etc.Never really excited about that revival./ I'm not sure where you got that from? We're talking about a production that opened 30 plus years ago? Artaud, Berkoff et al before that surrounded the audience with their 'total theatre' many years before that. No one is saying that this is anything new, just that it was exciting at the time... |
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74 posts
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Post by digipal on Aug 31, 2017 19:07:11 GMT
My very first foray into musical theatre was going to see Starlight in London 33 years ago, so it has a very special place in my heart. I now make an annual pilgramage to Bochum to see it it how it should be: in an amazing space where you can sit amongst all the action. A UK revival with all the bells and whistles would be amazing. If it works commercially in Bochum, surely there's a space in London where it would work again: Hammersmith Apollo, that empty space in The O2 where they were going to build a casino, where they did The Railway Children in Kings Cross, in a tent in the Queen Elizabeth park in Stratford? P.S. Freight is great :-)
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 0:03:02 GMT
My very first foray into musical theatre was going to see Starlight in London 33 years ago, so it has a very special place in my heart. I now make an annual pilgramage to Bochum to see it it how it should be: in an amazing space where you can sit amongst all the action. A UK revival with all the bells and whistles would be amazing. If it works commercially in Bochum, surely there's a space in London where it would work again: Hammersmith Apollo, that empty space in The O2 where they were going to build a casino, where they did The Railway Children in Kings Cross, in a tent in the Queen Elizabeth park in Stratford? P.S. Freight is great :-) Amazing - I have also been doing the annual Bochum pilgrimage ever since the 1st UK tour ended. Delighted I'm not the only one as haven't met that many people from the UK there! Same as you my first trip to a musical was Starlight in 1987 when I was 11 - have never been so blown away and that's the moment my MT love was born! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 0:52:39 GMT
Wooot, I got the last ticket for the Saturday matinee! I was on holiday when this was announced and sold out, so I was miffed to miss it. The London production was the first West End show I saw (summer 1999 with Adrian Hansel as Rusty). Amazing! See you at The Other Palace lol. Wel jel you saw Adrian Hansel, I never saw that cast but he had great reviews as Rusty and is also a really nice genuine guy :-) |
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Post by Seriously on Sept 1, 2017 2:08:30 GMT
I thought the reason ALW couldn't stage the original version again in the UK was because the Health & Safety laws had changed since then, making it pretty much impossible. So I wonder if he's looking for a new way to physically represent the trains?
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Post by d'James on Sept 1, 2017 2:22:17 GMT
I thought the reason ALW couldn't stage the original version again in the UK was because the Health & Safety laws had changed since then, making it pretty much impossible. So I wonder if he's looking for a new way to physically represent the trains? I know one of the original cast later got injured and sued, but with the right waivers in place, why not? |
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141 posts
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Post by blobble84 on Sept 1, 2017 21:59:56 GMT
Aside from the fact the rain would make it lethal, I'd love to see it at the open air theatre.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 22:35:06 GMT
Same for "Cats" at the New London.Why? What was wrong with the original format?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 1, 2017 22:37:07 GMT
Aside from the fact the rain would make it lethal, I'd love to see it at the open air theatre. Could do hang up a bit of tinsel and do it on ice! |
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2,778 posts
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Post by daniel on Sept 1, 2017 22:39:48 GMT
Same for "Cats" at the New London.Why? What was wrong with the original format? I never saw it but I imagine it's something to do with the revolving auditorium? There was apparently a sign that said "latecomers will not be admitted whilst the auditorium is in motion" |
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Post by d'James on Sept 1, 2017 22:44:43 GMT
No way would they let that venue be out of action for that long, LOL. I thought the reason ALW couldn't stage the original version again in the UK was because the Health & Safety laws had changed since then Correct, they would never get it licenced in that way, now. Same for "Cats" at the New London. I know one of the original cast later got injured and sued Stephanie Lawrence, wasn't it? Very sad. That wasn't who I was thinking of. Turns out the person I was thinking of was in the second cast and beyond. I thought Stephanie Lawrence got injured in Cats. |
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Post by SamB (was badoerfan) on Sept 1, 2017 22:52:55 GMT
Thanks for the heads up! I've booked for the 13th. Is it too much to expect them to have gone back to the original score. I hope there's no modern updates, like the hideous rapping cat in Cats. Fascinated to see what the ever-changing 11 o'clock number will be! I've liked Only He, Only You, Next Time, Only He (tour/Bochum version) and I Do very much, but could it be time for yet another new song? I'm curious after reading this. Did Only He turn into Only You for a while? If so, was it a duet version (the same as the Michael Crawford/Frances Ruffelle version on Crawford's album)? Or something different? Or just the short duet that follows Only He on the OLC? |
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Post by d'James on Sept 1, 2017 23:10:42 GMT
Fascinated to see what the ever-changing 11 o'clock number will be! I've liked Only He, Only You, Next Time, Only He (tour/Bochum version) and I Do very much, but could it be time for yet another new song? I'm curious after reading this. Did Only He turn into Only You for a while? If so, was it a duet version (the same as the Michael Crawford/Frances Ruffelle version on Crawford's album)? Or something different? Or just the short duet that follows Only He on the OLC? Love the Frances version, and nice that it's someone from the original cast. I'm not sure if that was the version in the show though. I like this version: I saw the first UK Tour twice in Manchester (one was a first date), and to begin with they were using Next Time You Fall In Love before moving to Only He/You the second time I saw it. I did not like Jane Horn as Pearl. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 5:48:18 GMT
Same for "Cats" at the New London.Why? What was wrong with the original format? I never saw it but I imagine it's something to do with the revolving auditorium? There was apparently a sign that said "latecomers will not be admitted whilst the auditorium is in motion" The reason latecomers weren't admitted at that point is because the cast were running round the auditorium. The revolve was moving very slowly: it took the whole of the overture to rotate through 180°, which — if my quick bit of research about the size of the revolve and the length of the overture is right — means the edge was moving at around 17cm/s, or less than 0.4mph. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 8:32:20 GMT
I never saw it but I imagine it's something to do with the revolving auditorium? There was apparently a sign that said "latecomers will not be admitted whilst the auditorium is in motion" The reason latecomers weren't admitted at that point is because the cast were running round the auditorium. The revolve was moving very slowly: it took the whole of the overture to rotate through 180°, which — if my quick bit of research about the size of the revolve and the length of the overture is right — means the edge was moving at around 17cm/s, or less than 0.4mph. When did they kaboosh this then? (sorry to thread hijack!) I saw it in maybe early 2000s and don't remember it revolving. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 8:43:27 GMT
They didn't. It always moved - unless broken. Right until the final performance. Wow. Amazing. Love learning little bits like this! Must have been completely distracted by the prancing kitties to have been aware - I was a minor at the time. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2017 8:58:19 GMT
Off-topic for a Starlight Express thread but on the subject of the revolve at the New London, it often happened that the less experienced front of house staff would direct latecomers to the wrong side of the house if they were seated in the first four rows of the stalls, because they failed to take into account that the seats were no longer in their pre-show positions.
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Post by d'James on Sept 2, 2017 10:21:50 GMT
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