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|name = Original Production |
|name = Original Production |
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|caption = "The Race Is On..." |
|caption = "The Race Is On..." |
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| − | |image = |
+ | |image = <gallery> |
| + | London Logo 1984.png|1984 |
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| − | |imagewidth = 250 |
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| + | London Logo 1993.png|1992 |
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| + | London Logo 1997.png|1997 |
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| + | </gallery> |
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|Opening Date = 27th March 1984 |
|Opening Date = 27th March 1984 |
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|Closing Date = 12th January 2002 |
|Closing Date = 12th January 2002 |
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| Line 10: | Line 13: | ||
|Choreographer = [[Arlene Phillips]] |
|Choreographer = [[Arlene Phillips]] |
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|quote = |
|quote = |
||
| + | |Producer = Really Useful Theatre Co.}}The West End production, directed by [[Trevor Nunn]] and choreographed by [[Arlene Phillips]] opened on 27 March 1984 at the [[Apollo Victoria Theatre]], where it ran for 7,406 performances. The theatre was overhauled to include a race track that extended into and around the stalls and around the front of the dress circle. |
||
| − | |Producer = Really Useful Theatre Co.}} |
||
| − | + | Original cast members included [[Stephanie Lawrence]], [[Frances Ruffelle]], [[PP Arnold]], [[Jeff Shankley]], [[Jeffrey Daniel]] and [[Ray Shell]]. |
|
As the original production of a show with almost entirely new material, there was no template for the producers to work from in creating this production. The first few years were included songs, characters and plot points never used subsequently. |
As the original production of a show with almost entirely new material, there was no template for the producers to work from in creating this production. The first few years were included songs, characters and plot points never used subsequently. |
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| Line 26: | Line 29: | ||
* Production Musical Director [[David Caddick]] |
* Production Musical Director [[David Caddick]] |
||
* Orchestrations by [[David Cullen]] and [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] |
* Orchestrations by [[David Cullen]] and [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]] |
||
| − | * Produced by [[The Really Useful Theatre Company]] |
+ | * Produced by [[Really Useful Group|The Really Useful Theatre Company]] |
== Rehearsals == |
== Rehearsals == |
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| Line 35: | Line 38: | ||
== Opening == |
== Opening == |
||
''Starlight Express'' opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on 27 March 1984. Lloyd Webber dedicated the material to his children, Imogen and Nicholas.<ref>Andrew Lloyd Webber's programme note for the [[Andrew Lloyd Webber#.22The New Starlight Express.22 .28London October 1992.29|'New' Starlight Express, 1992]]</ref> |
''Starlight Express'' opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on 27 March 1984. Lloyd Webber dedicated the material to his children, Imogen and Nicholas.<ref>Andrew Lloyd Webber's programme note for the [[Andrew Lloyd Webber#.22The New Starlight Express.22 .28London October 1992.29|'New' Starlight Express, 1992]]</ref> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
''Starlight Express''’s opening night was infamous. A BBC outside-broadcast truck was parked outside the theatre, waiting to capture the response from audience members on their way out. |
''Starlight Express''’s opening night was infamous. A BBC outside-broadcast truck was parked outside the theatre, waiting to capture the response from audience members on their way out. |
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| Line 44: | Line 48: | ||
== The Storyline == |
== The Storyline == |
||
| − | The original production of ''Starlight Express'' told a fairytale story about the group of toy trains, come to life in a child's dream. The story is told in detail [[1984 London production/The Story|here]]. |
+ | The original production of ''Starlight Express'' told a fairytale story about the group of toy trains, come to life in a child's dream. The story is told in detail [[1984 London production/The Story|here]]. |
| − | == |
+ | == Musical Numbers == |
| + | [[1984 London production/Musical Numbers|See Here for full song revisions.]] |
||
| − | |||
| − | ====Act I==== |
||
| − | * [[Overture]] - Control |
||
| − | * [[Rolling Stock]] – Greaseball and the Gang |
||
| − | * [[Taunting Rusty]] – Rusty, Greaseball, Gang |
||
| − | * [[Call Me Rusty]] – Rusty, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy and Ashley |
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| − | * [[Rusty Can't Be Serious|Rusty, You Can't Be Serious]] – Rusty, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy and Ashley |
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| − | * [[A Lotta Locomotion]] – Dinah, Ashley, Buffy and Pearl |
||
| − | * [[Pumping Iron ]]– Greaseball, Pearl, Ashley, Dinah, Buffy, 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers |
||
| − | * [[Freight]] – Pearl, Ashley, Dinah, Buffy, Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III, C.B., Dustin, Flat-Top |
||
| − | * [[Entry of the National Engines]] – National Engines and Marshals |
||
| − | * [[AC/DC]] – Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta and Company |
||
| − | * [[Coda Freight|Coda of Freight]] - The Company |
||
| − | * [[Hitching and Switching]] – The Company |
||
| − | * [[He Whistled at Me]] – Pearl |
||
| − | * [[Invitation Pearl|Pearl, You've Been Honoured]] – Purse, Pearl, Rusty |
||
| − | * [[Race: Heat One ]]– Greaseball and Dinah, Espresso and Buffy, Hashamoto and C.B. |
||
| − | * [[That was Unfair]] – Dinah, Greaseball, C.B. |
||
| − | * [[There's Me]] – C.B. |
||
| − | * [[Poppa's Blues]] – Poppa, Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III, Rusty |
||
| − | * [[Belle's Song|Belle the Sleeping Car]] – Belle |
||
| − | * [[Starlight Express (song)|Starlight Express Introduction]] – Poppa, Rusty, Belle |
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| − | * [[Race: Heat Two]] – Electra and Pearl, Weltschaft and Joule, Rusty and Belle |
||
| − | * [[Boy, Boy, Boy]] – Poppa, Rusty, Belle, Trucks |
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| − | * [[Race: Heat Three]] – Poppa and Dustin, Turnov and Wrench, Bobo and Ashley |
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| − | * [[Laughing Stock]] – The Company |
||
| − | * [[Starlight Express (song)|Starlight Express]] – Rusty |
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| − | |||
| − | ====Act II==== |
||
| − | * [[The Rap: Hey You!]] – The Company |
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| − | * [[Pearl Twirl]] – Greaseball, Pearl, Dinah, Buffy, Ashley |
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| − | * [[U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.]] – Dinah |
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| − | * [[Girls Rolling Stock|Rolling Stock (Reprise)]] – Dinah, Belle, Ashley and Buffy |
||
| − | * [[Wide Smile|C.B.]] – C.B, Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta |
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| − | * [[Race: Uphill Final]] – Electra and Dinah, Rusty and C.B., Greaseball and Pearl |
||
| − | * [[I Was Robbed]] – C.B., Rusty, Greaseball, Electra, Pearl, Gang |
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| − | * [[Right Place, Right Time]] – Rocky I, Rocky II, Rocky III |
||
| − | * [[Starlight Sequence|I Am The Starlight]] – Rusty, Starlight Express, Dustin |
||
| − | * [[Dinahs Disco|He Whistled at Me (Reprise)]] – Dinah, Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Volta, Joule, C.B. |
||
| − | * [[Race: Downhill Final]] – Rusty and Dustin, Electra and C.B, Greaseball and Pearl |
||
| − | * [[No Comeback]] – Electra, Krupp, Wrench, Purse, Joule, Volta |
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| − | * [[One Rock & Roll Too Many]] – Greaseball, C.B. |
||
| − | * [[Only He|Only He (Has The Power to Move Me)]] – Pearl, (Rusty) |
||
| − | * [[Only You OLC|Only You]] – Pearl, Rusty |
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| − | * [[Light at the End of the Tunnel]] – The Company |
||
| − | * Light at the End of the Tunnel (Reprise) |
||
== Revisions == |
== Revisions == |
||
==='''1988 revisions'''=== |
==='''1988 revisions'''=== |
||
| − | [[File: |
+ | [[File:Pumping Iron L87 Coaches.jpg|thumb|300x300px|Pumping Iron, featuring 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers]] |
Several songs were replaced or tweaked in or around 1988. This was done to incorporate revisions from the [[1987 New York production|Broadway production]]. |
Several songs were replaced or tweaked in or around 1988. This was done to incorporate revisions from the [[1987 New York production|Broadway production]]. |
||
| − | [[Engine of Love]] replaced [[Call Me Rusty]], and appeared immediately after Rolling Stock. Following [[Taunting Rusty]] Rusty has a few lines with the melody of Call Me Rusty ([[This is Gonna be the Day|This is gonna be the day]]), and, as with Call Me Rusty, the coaches then warn him that he is simply not tough enough to race. |
+ | *[[Engine of Love]] replaced [[Call Me Rusty]], and appeared immediately after Rolling Stock. Following [[Taunting Rusty]] Rusty has a few lines with the melody of Call Me Rusty ([[This is Gonna be the Day|This is gonna be the day]]), and, as with Call Me Rusty, the coaches then warn him that he is simply not tough enough to race. |
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | *[[Make Up My Heart|Make up my Heart]] replaced [[He Whistled at Me]], and some events were reordered. In the original version Rusty and Pearl have a discussion, then she sings her song, then Purse invites her to race with Electra. In the updated version Purse invites her to race, then Rusty and Pearl have a discussion, then Pearl soliloquises. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | [[Make Up My Heart|Make up my Heart]] replaced [[He Whistled at Me]], and some events were reordered. In the original version Rusty and Pearl have a discussion, then she sings her song, then Purse invites her to race with Electra. In the updated version Purse invites her to race, then Rusty and Pearl have a discussion, then Pearl soliloquises. |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
[[File:Electra Greaseball Caboose l91.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Trio version of "One Rock'n'Roll Too Many", after "No Comeback" was cut, before CB's role was cut.]] |
[[File:Electra Greaseball Caboose l91.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Trio version of "One Rock'n'Roll Too Many", after "No Comeback" was cut, before CB's role was cut.]] |
||
| − | [[Wide Smile|C.B.'s song]] had some lyrical changes. A short discussion was also added after the song between CB and Electra. Before the song Greaseball asks CB whose side he is on: in the original version he says "I'm on mine" but in the updated version he tells Greaseball "I'm on yours!" and admits to Electra after the song that he is only on his own side. |
+ | *[[Wide Smile|C.B.'s song]] had some lyrical changes. A short discussion was also added after the song between CB and Electra. Before the song Greaseball asks CB whose side he is on: in the original version he says "I'm on mine" but in the updated version he tells Greaseball "I'm on yours!" and admits to Electra after the song that he is only on his own side. |
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | [[File:L93 Electra Components.jpg|thumb|300x300px]] |
||
In November 1992, the London production, christened '''''The New Starlight Express''''', was relaunched with heavy revisions to the material, partly influenced by the intervening productions. |
In November 1992, the London production, christened '''''The New Starlight Express''''', was relaunched with heavy revisions to the material, partly influenced by the intervening productions. |
||
| + | For full details, see: [[1984 London production/1992 New Starlight|The New Starlight Express]] |
||
| − | '''Revisions to characters''' |
||
| − | Two major characters ([[Caboose|C.B.]] and [[Belle]]) and two minor characters (the 2nd and 3rd-class sleepers) were cut. |
||
| − | |||
| − | [[Belle]], having proved incompatible with the shorter 4-race system on [[1987 New York production|Broadway]], was cut from the show. In the Broadway production she simply appeared, sang her solo, then "went back to sleep" and was only seen again at the end of the show. This went hand in hand with revising the race structure to two eliminator heats, rather than three. |
||
| − | |||
| − | Cutting [[Caboose|C.B.]] required a near complete overhaul of the plot (though the lighting design didn't change - his spotlight still came up in "Freight" right up to the last performance of the show), as without a clear cut villain, Rusty, Electra and Greaseball had to cause their own problems or be the victims of circumstance to move the story along. |
||
| − | |||
| − | The 2nd and 3rd-class sleepers were no longer seen, as moving "Pumping Iron" meant that the performers who had filled those roles were now onstage as Components. |
||
| − | |||
| − | ==== '''Revisions to songs''' ==== |
||
| − | Four songs were added: |
||
| − | # [[He'll Whistle At Me]] |
||
| − | # [[Crazy]] |
||
| − | # [[Next Time You Fall In Love|Next Time You Fall in Love]] |
||
| − | # [[Megamix]] |
||
| − | Eight songs were cut: |
||
| − | # [[Overture]] |
||
| − | # [[Engine of Love]] |
||
| − | # [[There's Me]] |
||
| − | # [[Belle's Song]] |
||
| − | # [[Race: Heat Three]] |
||
| − | # [[Wide Smile|Wide Smile, High Style]] |
||
| − | # [[Only He]] |
||
| − | # [[Only You]] |
||
| − | Three songs were rewritten: |
||
| − | * [[Call Me Rusty]] returned in a shorter version. |
||
| − | * [[Hitching and Switching]] |
||
| − | * "[[The Rap: Check It Out, Can You Believe This?|The Rap]]", as the debate over whether or not Rusty should be allowed to race a second time had become redundant. Instead, 'The Rap' became an anthem to racing. Pearl still switched engines to Electra, leaving Dinah [[U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.|uncoupled]]. |
||
| − | * With Belle gone, Ashley and Buffy carried "[[Rolling Stock (Reprise)]]" by themselves, allowing them each more vocals. |
||
| − | [[File:L96 Pumping Iron.jpg|left|thumb|300x300px|Greaseball, Coaches, and Components in Pumping Iron]] |
||
| − | |||
| − | ==== '''Revisions to the plot/structure''' ==== |
||
| − | "Entry of National Trains" moved from after "Freight" to the opening of the show. |
||
| − | |||
| − | "Pumping Iron" was moved to immediately after "AC/DC", shifting the intention from Greaseball merely boasting to a direct challenge to the newcomer. Greaseball now interrupted Electra, cutting off the end of the preceding song. |
||
| − | |||
| − | Rather than winning a heat each, as in the 5-race structure, Greaseball and Electra come first and second in the first heat, securing places in the final for each of them. Rusty now didn't race at all until the final, only reluctantly taking Poppa's place at the end of Act 1. Poppa won the second heat with Bobo coming second. |
||
| − | [[File:L92 Electra Greaseball.jpg|thumb|220x220px]] |
||
| − | After the Uphill Final, when Dinah uncouples Electra, with no C.B. he partners Buffy instead for the Downhill Final. Rather than being crashed intentionally, Electra and Greaseball crash accidentally at the end of the race. Electra also took one of Greaseball's spoken lines ("You mean I could be converted to steam?" became "D'you think I could be converted to steam?") afterwards to be included in the scene. |
||
== Cast Recordings == |
== Cast Recordings == |
||
| − | There were two cast recordings made of the London production - the 1984 [[1984 London Cast Recording|Original London Cast]], and the 1993 "[[ |
+ | There were two cast recordings made of the London production - the 1984 [[1984 London Cast Recording|Original London Cast]], and the 1993 "[[1984 London production/1993 Cast Recording|The New Starlight Express]]". Both are partial show recordings, the Original Cast Recording gives a sense of the full show with some recit scenes linking the main musical numbers, however large sections of plot are seamlessly removed from the double album. The New Starlight Express recording is a one-disc highlights album, designed to be complementary to the original and provide the updated numbers rather than try to represent the whole production. |
| − | |||
| − | == The Apollo Victoria Theatre == |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | The [[Apollo Victoria Theatre]] is a West End theatre, located on Wilton Road near Victoria station in the City of Westminster. Opened in 1930 as a cinema and variety theatre, the Apollo Victoria became a venue for musical theatre, beginning with ''The Sound of Music'' in 1981, and including ''Starlight Express'', from 1984 to 2002. The theatre is now home to the musical ''Wicked''. |
||
| − | |||
| − | The theatre is an architectural gem in the Art Deco style, with an underwater theme described as "a Mermaid's dream of Heaven". |
||
==Cast== |
==Cast== |
||
| Line 178: | Line 85: | ||
=== 1984 Original Cast === |
=== 1984 Original Cast === |
||
| − | {| class="article-table" |
+ | {| class="article-table" style="width: 600px;" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="1" border="2" align="center" |
| − | | |
+ | |Rusty |
|[[Ray Shell]] |
|[[Ray Shell]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Pearl |
|[[Stephanie Lawrence]] |
|[[Stephanie Lawrence]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |[[ |
+ | |[[Jeff Shankley]] |
| − | | |
+ | |Dinah |
|[[Frances Ruffelle]] |
|[[Frances Ruffelle]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |[[ |
+ | |[[Lon Satton]] |
| − | | |
+ | |Ashley |
|[[Chrissy Wickham]] |
|[[Chrissy Wickham]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Electra |
|[[Jeffrey Daniel]] |
|[[Jeffrey Daniel]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Buffy |
|[[Nancy Wood]] |
|[[Nancy Wood]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | | |
||
| |
| |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | + | |Rocky 1 / Gang |
|
|[[Danny John Jules]] |
|[[Danny John Jules]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Krupp / Gang |
|[[Eddie Kemp]] |
|[[Eddie Kemp]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | + | |Rocky 2 / Gang |
|
|[[Attlee Baptiste]] |
|[[Attlee Baptiste]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Wrench |
|[[Carole Amphlett]] |
|[[Carole Amphlett]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | + | |Rocky 3 / Gang |
|
|[[Richard Bodkin]] |
|[[Richard Bodkin]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Purse / Gang |
|[[Koffi Missah|Kofi Missah]] |
|[[Koffi Missah|Kofi Missah]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | + | |Flat-top / Gook |
|
|[[Paul Reeves]] |
|[[Paul Reeves]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Joule / 2nd Class Sleeper |
|[[Debbie Wake]] |
|[[Debbie Wake]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Dustin / Gang |
|[[Gary Love]] |
|[[Gary Love]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Volta / 3rd Class Sleeper |
|[[Voyd]] |
|[[Voyd]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | + | |C.B. |
|
|[[Michael Staniforth]] |
|[[Michael Staniforth]] |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Belle |
|[[PP Arnold|P. P. Arnold]] |
|[[PP Arnold|P. P. Arnold]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| |
| |
||
| + | | |
||
| − | |||
| + | | |
||
| + | | |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Bobo / Lube |
|[[Tom Jobe]] |
|[[Tom Jobe]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |[[ |
+ | |[[Bobby Collins]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | | |
+ | |Espresso |
|[[Ruel George Campbell]] |
|[[Ruel George Campbell]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |- |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |- |
||
| + | | |
||
| + | | |
||
| + | | |
||
| + | | |
||
| + | |- |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | |[[Abraham Osuagwu]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
|[[Samantha Foxx]] |
|[[Samantha Foxx]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
|Swing |
|Swing |
||
|[[Charlotte Avery]] |
|[[Charlotte Avery]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| − | |[[Bobby Collins]] |
||
|Swing |
|Swing |
||
|[[Sebastian Craig]] |
|[[Sebastian Craig]] |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
|Swing |
|Swing |
||
|[[Michael Seraphim]] |
|[[Michael Seraphim]] |
||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| ⚫ | |||
|Swing |
|Swing |
||
|[[Eleanor Bertram]] |
|[[Eleanor Bertram]] |
||
| Line 271: | Line 188: | ||
=== Subsequent Casts 1985 - 2002 === |
=== Subsequent Casts 1985 - 2002 === |
||
| − | [[London |
+ | [[1984 London production/Cast Lists|'''Further Cast Information''']] |
==Galleries== |
==Galleries== |
||
| Line 277: | Line 194: | ||
{| class="article-table" style="width: 500px;" |
{| class="article-table" style="width: 500px;" |
||
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1984| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1984|1984 Gallery]] |
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery|Advert Gallery]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1987| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1987|1985 - 1992 Gallery]] |
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1992| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1992|1992 - 1993 Gallery]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1994| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1994|1994 Gallery]] |
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1995| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1995|1995 Gallery]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1996| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1996|1996 Gallery]] |
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1997| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1997|1997 Gallery]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1998| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1998|1998 Gallery]] |
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1999| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 1999|1999 Gallery]] |
|- |
|- |
||
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 2000| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 2000|2000 Gallery]] |
| − | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 2001| |
+ | |[[1984 London production/Gallery 2001|2001 Gallery]] |
|} |
|} |
||
<gallery> |
<gallery> |
||
| + | Turnov Espresso Ruhrgold L99.jpg |
||
| − | L99 Nationals.jpg |
||
Poppa Freight l97 09.jpg |
Poppa Freight l97 09.jpg |
||
Coaches Components London 1984.jpg |
Coaches Components London 1984.jpg |
||
| Line 305: | Line 222: | ||
=== Articles and News === |
=== Articles and News === |
||
| + | * 1984 - [[1984 London production/NY Times Review|NY Times Review]] Round-Up |
||
* 1985 - Reassurance for Investors in the £2 million musical Starlight Express who have complained of slow returns - Andrew Lloyd Webber predicts that now the heavy initial investment has been recouped profits will soar with a return of 40% in the next 12 months. 'We hope it will run for at least another three years and although it won't make as much as Cats it will be very profitable ' says Andrew. |
* 1985 - Reassurance for Investors in the £2 million musical Starlight Express who have complained of slow returns - Andrew Lloyd Webber predicts that now the heavy initial investment has been recouped profits will soar with a return of 40% in the next 12 months. 'We hope it will run for at least another three years and although it won't make as much as Cats it will be very profitable ' says Andrew. |
||
| + | * [[1984 London Production/1991 Promo|1991 Promotion]] information. |
||
| + | * "[[1984 London production/ArticleWheelThing|The Wheel Thing]]" - Carole Waddis, 2000 |
||
| + | [[File:Press Reel - London 1997|thumb|330x330px]] |
||
=== Press Pack statistics (2001) === |
=== Press Pack statistics (2001) === |
||
| Line 325: | Line 246: | ||
| + | |||
| ⚫ | |||
| + | <references /> |
||
| ⚫ | |||
[[Category:productions]] |
[[Category:productions]] |
||
[[Category:London]] |
[[Category:London]] |
||
Revision as of 21:34, 5 September 2019
The West End production, directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Arlene Phillips opened on 27 March 1984 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre, where it ran for 7,406 performances. The theatre was overhauled to include a race track that extended into and around the stalls and around the front of the dress circle.
Original cast members included Stephanie Lawrence, Frances Ruffelle, PP Arnold, Jeff Shankley, Jeffrey Daniel and Ray Shell.
As the original production of a show with almost entirely new material, there was no template for the producers to work from in creating this production. The first few years were included songs, characters and plot points never used subsequently.
Creative Team
- Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Lyrics by Richard Stilgoe
- Directed by Trevor Nunn
- Choreographed by Arlene Phillips
- Designed by John Napier
- Lighting by David Hersey
- Sound by Martin Levan
- Production Musical Director David Caddick
- Orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber
- Produced by The Really Useful Theatre Company
Rehearsals
Following a successful workshop in 1983, full-blown rehearsals for Starlight Express began in January 1984 at the ‘deliciously run-down’[1] Tropical Palace in Willesden.
Lloyd Webber recalls that on the first day, ‘Trevor Nunn gave his usual lengthy opening speech. The sight of Trevor lecturing Arlene Phillips’s body poppers about the “moral, emotional and metaphysical centre” of our railroad show was alone worth the price of admission.’[1]
Opening
Starlight Express opened at the Apollo Victoria Theatre on 27 March 1984. Lloyd Webber dedicated the material to his children, Imogen and Nicholas.[2]
Opening Night controversy
Starlight Express’s opening night was infamous. A BBC outside-broadcast truck was parked outside the theatre, waiting to capture the response from audience members on their way out.
Fifteen minutes from the end of the show, the truck started transmitting on the same frequency as the radio microphones being used onstage. Lloyd Webber recalls that this ‘all but destroyed Stephanie Lawrence’s big number “Only He” and caused huge mirth in the finale when Lon Satton hit the lines, “There are dark days ahead when the power goes dead.”[1]
When Starlight Express’s sound designer identified the problem, the BBC refused to turn their transmitter off. Lloyd Webber theorises that the BBC sabotaged the evening, hoping to create news by capturing negative responses from the audience.[1]
The Storyline
The original production of Starlight Express told a fairytale story about the group of toy trains, come to life in a child's dream. The story is told in detail here.
Musical Numbers
See Here for full song revisions.
Revisions
1988 revisions
Pumping Iron, featuring 2nd and 3rd class Sleepers
Several songs were replaced or tweaked in or around 1988. This was done to incorporate revisions from the Broadway production.
- Engine of Love replaced Call Me Rusty, and appeared immediately after Rolling Stock. Following Taunting Rusty Rusty has a few lines with the melody of Call Me Rusty (This is gonna be the day), and, as with Call Me Rusty, the coaches then warn him that he is simply not tough enough to race.
- The focus of the coaches' subsequent recitative (Rusty, You Can't Be Serious) changed. As Rusty was no longer onstage, the coaches warn Pearl not to race with Rusty rather than warning Rusty not to race.
- Make up my Heart replaced He Whistled at Me, and some events were reordered. In the original version Rusty and Pearl have a discussion, then she sings her song, then Purse invites her to race with Electra. In the updated version Purse invites her to race, then Rusty and Pearl have a discussion, then Pearl soliloquises.
- There's Me had some lyrical changes. In particular, the final verse became a duet between CB and Dinah.
- Belle's Song had some lyrical changes.
- Starlight Express had some lyrical and melodic changes (becoming the version which starts "When the night is darkest" rather than "When your goodnights have been said").
Trio version of "One Rock'n'Roll Too Many", after "No Comeback" was cut, before CB's role was cut.
- C.B.'s song had some lyrical changes. A short discussion was also added after the song between CB and Electra. Before the song Greaseball asks CB whose side he is on: in the original version he says "I'm on mine" but in the updated version he tells Greaseball "I'm on yours!" and admits to Electra after the song that he is only on his own side.
- No Comeback was cut and One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many became a trio for CB, Greaseball and Electra.
- Only He and Only You (reprise) were replaced with the duet version of Only You.
- Some recitative was cut before Light at the End of the Tunnel: Ashley and Buffy no longer reflect on finding love on the railroads, and the company no longer tell Control to "Shut it!".
1992: The New Starlight Express
In November 1992, the London production, christened The New Starlight Express, was relaunched with heavy revisions to the material, partly influenced by the intervening productions.
For full details, see: The New Starlight Express
Cast Recordings
There were two cast recordings made of the London production - the 1984 Original London Cast, and the 1993 "The New Starlight Express". Both are partial show recordings, the Original Cast Recording gives a sense of the full show with some recit scenes linking the main musical numbers, however large sections of plot are seamlessly removed from the double album. The New Starlight Express recording is a one-disc highlights album, designed to be complementary to the original and provide the updated numbers rather than try to represent the whole production.
Cast
1984 Original Cast
| Rusty | Ray Shell | Pearl | Stephanie Lawrence |
| Greaseball | Jeff Shankley | Dinah | Frances Ruffelle |
| Poppa | Lon Satton | Ashley | Chrissy Wickham |
| Electra | Jeffrey Daniel | Buffy | Nancy Wood |
| Rocky 1 / Gang | Danny John Jules | Krupp / Gang | Eddie Kemp |
| Rocky 2 / Gang | Attlee Baptiste | Wrench | Carole Amphlett |
| Rocky 3 / Gang | Richard Bodkin | Purse / Gang | Kofi Missah |
| Flat-top / Gook | Paul Reeves | Joule / 2nd Class Sleeper | Debbie Wake |
| Dustin / Gang | Gary Love | Volta / 3rd Class Sleeper | Voyd |
| C.B. | Michael Staniforth | Belle | P. P. Arnold |
| Bobo / Lube | Tom Jobe | Turnov / Gang | Bobby Collins |
| Espresso | Ruel George Campbell | Hashamoto / Gang | Drue Williams |
| Weltschaft / Tank | Mark Davis | City of Milton Keynes | Raymond Hatfield |
| Cover Poppa | Abraham Osuagwu | Cover Belle | Samantha Foxx |
| Swing | Charlotte Avery | Swing | Sebastian Craig |
| Swing | Michael Seraphim | Swing | Eleanor Bertram |
| Swing | Uduak Ephraim | Swing | Pollyanna Buckingham |
Subsequent Casts 1985 - 2002
Galleries
Photos of the production are divided by year.
| 1984 Gallery | Advert Gallery |
| 1985 - 1992 Gallery | 1992 - 1993 Gallery |
| 1994 Gallery | 1995 Gallery |
| 1996 Gallery | 1997 Gallery |
| 1998 Gallery | 1999 Gallery |
| 2000 Gallery | 2001 Gallery |
News
Articles and News
- 1984 - NY Times Review Round-Up
- 1985 - Reassurance for Investors in the £2 million musical Starlight Express who have complained of slow returns - Andrew Lloyd Webber predicts that now the heavy initial investment has been recouped profits will soar with a return of 40% in the next 12 months. 'We hope it will run for at least another three years and although it won't make as much as Cats it will be very profitable ' says Andrew.
- 1991 Promotion information.
- "The Wheel Thing" - Carole Waddis, 2000
Press Reel - London 1997
Press Pack statistics (2001)
- 27,600 pairs of skate laces, 27,000 skate wheels, 23,000 toe stops and 5,500 false eyelashes have been used since the show opened.
- The original London production cost £2.25m to put on, used 750 gallons of paint and varnish, six miles of timber, two and a half acres of sheet wood and 60 tonnes of steel.
- Among the most dedicated fans are the Pearson family, who allegedly watched the show every week for the last five years, and Sally Bliault, from Jersey, and Keryna Thorne-Booth who has seen over 800 performances.
- An estimated 16.5 million people have watched the show in the UK, United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany and Mexico.
- More than £140m has been taken at the London box office, with a further £310m earned worldwide.
- 24 people have appeared on stage every night, with more than 200 involved in putting the show on.
- The top speed recorded by a skater was 40 mph during a rehearsal.
- In November 1992, every aspect of the production was re-worked. The show was re-directed, re-choreographed, re-lit and the set was refurbished.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Unmasked, Andrew Lloyd Webber
- ↑ Andrew Lloyd Webber's programme note for the 'New' Starlight Express, 1992
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