 |
Lyrics - Richard Stilgoe
Opened - 1984
Main characters - Rusty, Pearl, Poppa, Dinah, Greaseball, Electra, C.B., Belle
Plot - Starlight Express is set in a child's bedroom who is having a train contest instead of going to bed. He is the narrator, known as 'Control'. Rusty is a steam train, and the other trains make fun of him, but he vows to win the contest. Pearl is a new coach, who dreams of a steam train, but she doesn't think Rusty is the right one. There are heats for the final. Poppa qualifies but gives his place to Rusty. The other main contenders are Greaseball and Electra. Both enlist the help of C.B., who acts like a nice train on the outside, to stop Rusty doing well. Dinah, Greaseballs coach, complains about this so he disconnects her and asks Pearl instead. Rusty has no coach so has to choose Belle the sleeping car, who is getting on in years. Before the final Rusty gets a visit from the Starlight Express, a magical midnight train that inspires him to succeed. Rusty defeats Greaseball and Electra in the final, but he is more concerned with finding Pearl than with his victory. Pearl has realised that Rusty was right for her all along, and it all ends happily. As a finale the trains praise the merrits of steam over other forms of locamotive power.
Songs (With marks out of 10) -
Original Starlight Express 1.Rolling Stock (7)
The New Starlight Express 1.Entry of national trains (7)
2.Call me Rusty (9)
3.A Lotta Locomotion (9)
4.Pumping Iron (8)
5.Freight (8)
6.AC/DC (9)
7.He whistled at me (10)
8.There's me (10)
9.Poppa's Blues (6)
10.Belle the sleeping car (9)
11.Starlight Express (10)
12.The rap (8)
13.U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D. (10)
14.C.B. (8)
15.Right place, right time (6)
16.I am the starlight (10)
17.No comeback (8)
18.One rock'n'roll too many (8)
19.Only He (10)
20.Light at the end of the tunnel (8)
2.Rolling Stock (8)
3.He'll whistle at me (10)
4.Freight (9)
5.AC/DC (10)
6.Pumping Iron (9)
7.Coda of freight (8)
8.Crazy (9)
9.Make up my heart (9)
10.Poppa's Blues (6)
11.Starlight Express (10)
12.The Rap (8)
13.U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D. (10)
14.Right place, right time (7)
15.I am the starlight (10)
16.Next time you fall in love (10)
17.One rock'n'roll too many (8)
18.Light at the end of the tunnel (8)
Favourite song - Only He ('Next time you fall in love' from the new version)
Favourite character - Dinah
Favourite quote -
"When your goodnights have been said, and you are lying in bed, with the covers
pulled up tight, and though you count every sheep, you get the feeling that sleep is
going to stay away tonight. Thats when you hear it coming, that is when you hear the
humming of the Starlight Express."
- Rusty, hoping that he will be visited by the midnight train, 'Starlight Express'
Comment - I first bought the new version of Starlight express after reading in the paper that is was very good. It's so much fun! Like Cats, bringing human emotions to something that doesn't usually have them has worked a treat. Hopefully I will get to see Starlight Express this summer, because the stage experience must be something else. I've since bought the original Starlight Express, which is more serious than the new version and has had some very good songs cut from it. I prefer the original as it has more emotional music, but the new version is supposed to be more fun so it has succeeded!