Belle the bar car ("Belle der Barwagen" in German) is a character in the 30th anniversary production of Starlight Express, currently playing in Bochum.
She is a coach and features alongside her friends, Pearl the observation coach, Dinah the dining car and Carrie the luggage van.
Despite having a similar name, she is a different character to either incarnation of Belle the sleeping car (the version seen in the original London production and on Broadway or since 2017 in London).
Personality[]
Belle is a confident coach and a confidant drinker. She is strong-willed and puts her own interests first, as evidenced by her drinking while racing with Coco during Heat Two. She is, however, vocal in defending her friends from the engines.
Story[]
Belle introduces herself before I Am Me, after Pearl is introduced to the rest of the train yard.
She races with Coco the French Engine during Heat Two, but her drinking habit causes her poor performance in the race, resulting in complaints and frustration from Coco.
Both Belle and Carrie provide emotional support to Dinah during the dining car's Act Two solo, U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D, though not to the same extent Buffy and Ashley did due to Girl's Rolling Stock being cut. Belle can be seen offering a shot of liquor to Dinah towards the end of her solo, giving Dinah the energy to finish strong.
History[]
Belle was added to the Bochum production of Starlight Express as part of a sweeping set of revisions to the material.
She is effectively a replacement for Ashley the Smoking Car, but with less character development, as the material focuses on expanding on the characters of Dinah and Pearl.
Appearance[]
Belle's appearance is inspired by predecessor, Ashley the Smoking Car. However, Belle wears an altered bodice with windows and the lettering "LOUNGE CAR," on her chestpiece, replacing Ashley's ashtrays. She has folded napkins above said chestpiece, similar to Dinah, but high across her neckline. Her headpiece is a tray of glasses, with the lettering "COCKTAILS" that sits on her tidy brunette hair. She also wears two hair pins on either side of her head. One is shaped like two bottle openers and the other is shaped like several bottle caps. Her sleeves are white on brown pinstripes, and she wears a shirt-collar styled choker. Otherwise she retains Ashley's lampshade skirt, with an overall warmer more golden brown colour palette.
Gallery[]
Rochelle Sherona, 2018 - 2019[]
Emmanuelle N'Zuzi, 2019 - 2020[]
Dieuwke Tönissen, 2020 - 2023[]
Molly McGuire, 2023 - 2025[]
Backstage[]
Role[]
Playing age 18–25.
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| Audition Notices |
Cast[]
Bochum, Germany
| 2018 - 2019 | Rochelle Sherona |
| 2019 - 2020 | Emmanuelle N'Zuzi |
| 2020 - 2021 | Dieuwke Tönissen (Cancelled due to Covid) |
| 2021 - 2023 | Dieuwke Tönissen |
| 2023 - 2025 | Molly McGuire |
Fan Theories[]
See Here for Fan theories about Belle the Bar Car.