Starlight Express the Musical Wiki
Starlight Express the Musical Wiki
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Krupp is Electra's bodyguard/chauffeur, he is the raw muscle of the Components. He often wears dark glasses and totes a mimed gun. His costume references the early 20th Century Chauffeur. The peaked cap remains part of the identity of a Chauffeur to this day. He wears a cross-over jacket which would be practical as a wind breaker for driving an early design vehicle, similarly "driving goggles" were essential without a windscreen.

His wide-hipped breeches allow him plenty of movement as both driver and mechanic, the leather gloves with gauntlets similarly protect him while working on the engine. Added to these human elements, he shows mechanical elements to the costume, shiny metallic panels, trainline branding, or warning signs as he leads Electra's entourage.

Photo gallery

London[]

The original design leaned heavily into the "Chauffeur" design as the character began as one of Electra's entourage, every Superstar needs a driver. While the elements of "Trains" are present, it does not reference the "Electric" theme as strongly as other productions. Early versions of his costume included the pun-tastic text "AMPTRACK" across his chest. Wearing a uniform consisting of a cap, a double-breasted coat, jodhpur styled trousers, and knee high boots, his costume is fittingly excentuated with metal paneling from top to bottom, referencing his namesake company Krupp, and the steel factory associated. Krupp's signature sunglasses would be added during his first year. Later London saw the addition of a small hip bag, presumably where Krupp's gun is said to be kept. Throughout the London production's run his costume became more defined with a stronger silhouette, but remained much the same in design.

Makeup: Krupp's early makeup featured similar pale bases and structure to the rest of the components, his accenting being blue or grey to fit with his darker costume.

Broadway[]

The Broadway production re-designed his costume to be far more mechanical in appearance, often mistaken for some form of robot. His costume design is the most electrically faceted. His hat and collar signifies a bobbin wound in electrical cable, his belt also made of protected cable. Krupp's shoulders were reminiscent of electrical transformers, hence the "DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE" warning on his chestpiece. His kneepads also featured a "SHOCK" warning. The metal paneling is brighter, as his grey costume was developed into a shinier silver steel. The militarity jodhpurs became more angular, and his sunglasses became more visor-like as his costume blended slowly into an 80s futuristic style. His costume is one of the most "Boxy", restrictive designs of the Broadway set, with a huge articulared shoulder piece. His overall silhouette is less imposing than the London version, however, as his torso pulls in to lycra below the huge shoulder box, giving him an exaggerated hourglass figure rather than suggesting solid muscle.

Later Versions[]

The original set of costumes for the German production were made in New York alongside the Japan Tour and Broadway costumes, so the initial design is consistent with the Broadway designs. The costume only changed in slight details of materials used throughout the years. The inital US Tour and Las Vegas productions directly re-used the Broadway costumes.

Headwear: Krupp wears a hat, that closely resembles a cable reel, possibly referencing explosing detonating cord. He retains the black peak of the Chauffeur's cap in a minimal design which could also read as a guard rail, or even an engine's cow catcher similar to Rusty.

Make-Up: Krupp's makeup design evolved throughout the years with changing products and individual performers adding their own flair. The costume includes dark glasses, however due to visibility onstage not all performers have worn them throughout the show.

At one point in the early 2000s the German production included red LEDs built into the shades. When the performer is not planning on wearing the shades throughout the show, he wears bold, exaggerated eye makeup, and at times like the other Electric characters, has worn enormous, exaggerated eyelashes.

The early Broadway and Japan tours experimented with metallic makeup, heavy on silver and red. The German production relied on matte white, red and black to read clearly onstage.

Krupp did not feature in later tours.

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