Starlight Express answer me YES!!!!
PUBLISHED November 15th, 2013 05:29 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 03:20 pm
It may seem ridiculous to think that the main characters, in fact, all the characters in one of the West End’s longest running musicals are trains. Trains you say? Yes. Trains.
For those of you unfamiliar with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical ….Starlight Express is the rambunctious, feel-good and uplifting show where people on rollerskates pretend to be trains in their different guises. It is absurd! But fantastically good.
The story follows a child’s dream in which his train set comes to life in the classic love conquers all, roller coaster tale of happiness, despair and finally, glorious happiness again! As the trains compete to become the fastest engine in the world, the premise of the show is built around a three way skate-off between classic underdog, Rusty the steam train; dirty hound dog Greaseball the diesel; and the enigmatic, exceptionally tight-trousered and hugely camp Electra, the electric train. On top of fame, fortune and pride, the driving force behind Rusty’s show of macho is Pearl the blonde bombshell, first class carriage, who is superficially attracted to the flashy trains, not knowing what her true heart desires! Starlight Express, essentially a fairy godmother figure is the magic of the tale…that if you believe something strong enough and your heart is pure, you will conquer all. sigh
The direction and choreography are tight and imaginative, made all the more impressive because you keep remembering ‘they’re on skates! it’s amazing!’. And the ensemble routines, especially in the triumphant ‘Light At The End of the Tunnel’ are hugely energetic and smile-inducing, in fact should you find yourself bopping along and cheering on poor old Rusty, you will probably not be the only one.
Due to the constraints of a smaller theatre stage, the performers cannot race around runways in the audience as they do in the West End, so instead, the audience is asked to put on 3D glasses “GOGGLES ON” to watch the three races in a neat little trick that will enthral the younger, video-game savvy crowd.
The genius that is Andrew Lloyd Webber makes a story about trains, an inspiring tale about triumph over adversity, following your heart and how having a little faith in the goodness of the universe will always be rewarded with success and happiness. Supported of course with gleeful songs, fabulous dance moves and superb costumes- lots of cod pieces! (this amused us hugely)
Last night was opening night and this Nomad went along to suspend disbelief for a while and just get taken away on a moment…..it was hilarious, silly, heartwarming, absorbing and joyfully uplifting. I would highly recommend the show as it is almost guaranteed to lift your mood and just remember folks…..there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!
Starlight Express is running from the 13th – 24th November at Marina Bay Sands, Mastercard Theatres. You can book your tickets here.
Photographs courtesy of Eric Richmond
