Starlight Express begins with a child, "Control", getting their toy trains ready for “the great race”.
At some point, we enter Control’s imagination. This happens differently in different productions. In most productions, Control is interrupted by their mother, who sends them to bed and sings them a lullaby – a shortened version of “Starlight Express”.
Depending on the production, Control either continues the game as soon as the coast is clear, or falls asleep and begins to dream.
History[]
Original London version, 1984[]
As the audience enters the auditorium, toy train sets are running around certain parts of the set. As the house lights dim, the lights and sounds of these models becomes more prominent. Control announces that "tonight is race night" and that all trains go to 'racing mode'. However, Control nods off still giving out orders. As Control starts to dream, the rattling of the toy trains stops and they turn off, to be replaced by shadowy figures emerging from the same spots we last saw toy trains.
Musically, the overture signifies Control falling asleep, the sleepy repetition of "all Change" shows us losing consciousness, then we are introduced to the "Starlight Express" melody, initially played unaccompanied, then it repeats at different modulations, starting so quietly, building with more instrumentation, until a fully orchestrated repetition, which then leads towards something truly magical, about to happen - when we get run over by a Diesel train! The rock beat of Rolling Stock interrupts the beautiful dreamscape conjured by the repeated melody, which we won't hear resolved until the Starlight Sequence.
| CONTROL: | This is Control! This is Control! |
| All trains hear this! All trains hear this! | |
| All trains to racing mode! All trains to racing mode! | |
| Tonight is Race Night! Tonight is Race Night! | |
| All change! | |
| All change. | |
| All change... | |
| [Intro of Starlight Sequence plays.] |
The New Starlight Express, 1992[]
Control announces that it is Race Night and that it's the most important night in the history of the world. They then proceed with a countdown which starts a race. This is interrupted by Control's mom, who tells them to get to bed. Then she sings "Starlight Express" as a lullaby. But when she leaves, Control sneaks back to the trains and proceeds with "Entry of the National Engines".
The 1993 "new" London cast recording remixes the opening, combining commentary from the first heat with Control's opening lines - this does not reflect the performance.
Broadway, 1987[]
This version has also been modified slightly for the Japanese/Australian Tour and, for some time, the Bochum production. This version omits the orchestral overture, and leads straight into "Entry of the National Engines"
Control is announcing that it is Race Night and gets excited over which train will win. However, their playtime gets cut short when their mother tells them to get to bed. Then she sings "Starlight Express" as a lullaby. But when she leaves, Control sneaks back to the trains and proceeds with "Entry of the National Engines".
| CONTROL: | This is Control! This is Control! |
| Tonight is the most important night | |
| In the history of the world! | |
| Take your seats for the great race! | |
| Who will win the Silver Dollar? | |
| Will it be diesel? | |
| Will it be electric? | |
| Or will it be steam? | |
| The tension is unbearable at the track here tonight! | |
| MOTHER: | Put those trains away! |
| CONTROL: | Oh Mom, just five more minutes? |
| MOTHER: | Put them away and into bed! |
| CONTROL: | But... |
| MOTHER: | No buts! |
| (sings) When the night is darkest, | |
| Open up your mind, | |
| The dream begins, it's becoming clearer. | |
| Listen to the distance, | |
| Listen and you'll find | |
| The Midnight Train is getting nearer. | |
| CONTROL & MOTHER: | Starlight Express, Starlight Express, |
| Are you real? Yes or no? | |
| Starlight Express, Starlight Express... |
Bochum[]
This is Control! This is Control!
Until 2018
The German Production has used both the long and short versions of the overture, but the original version used the long version with the skate-round, rather than having "Entry of the National Engines" at the very beginning of the show. Control's Mother tells Control to go to sleep, and sings the "Starlight Express" melody as a lullaby, at which point Control falls asleep and the dream-scape music begins.
From 2018
In 2018, the Bochum production brought both versions together, with the sweeping orchestral music interrupted by Control as they resume the play. It also added a few lines of dialogue and sound effects to clarify what's happening.
| CONTROL (German): | Hallo zusammen! | CONTROL (English): | Hello all! |
| Und willkommen auf meiner | And welcome to my | ||
| Super coolen Spielzeugeisenbahn. | Super cool toy train set. | ||
| Ich verrate euch gleich | I'm about to tell you | ||
| Ein großes Geheimnis: | A big secret: | ||
| Mama geht gleich weg | Mom is about to leave | ||
| Und ich bleib mit Oma alleine hier, | And I'll stay here alone with Grandma, | ||
| Und die ist ein bisschen schwerhörig. | And she's a little hard of hearing. | ||
| Also mit etwas Glück | So, with a bit of luck, | ||
| Können wir bald anfangen. | We can start soon. | ||
| Das muss aber unter uns bleiben, | But this has to stay between us, | ||
| Klar? | Alright? | ||
| Bitte packt eure Handys weg. | Please put away your cell phones. | ||
| Denn ihr dürft keine Fotos, Film- | Because you can't take photos, videos, | ||
| Oder Tonaufnahmen machen. | Or sound recordings. | ||
| Verstanden? | Do you understand? | ||
| Wenn Mama das rauskriegt | If Mom finds out, | ||
| Ist die Vorstellung zu Ende! | The performance is over! | ||
| Noch eine wichtige Warnung: | Another important warning: | ||
| Tretet nicht auf die Gleise | Don't step on the tracks | ||
| Und lehnt euch nicht über | And don't lean against | ||
| Die schwarz-weißen Absperrungen. | The black and white barriers. | ||
| Meine neuen Züge sind echt schnell. | My new trains are really fast. | ||
| Und gefährlich! | And dangerous! | ||
| Und jetzt, lasst das Rennen beginnen. | And now, let the race begin. | ||
| Band, legt los! | Band, let‘s go! | ||
| CONTROL: | Hier ist Control! Hier ist Control! | This is Control! This is Control! | |
| Achtung, alle herhören, | Attention, everyone, listen, | ||
| Dies ist die wichtigste Nacht | This is the most important night | ||
| Der Weltgeschichte! | In the history of the world! | ||
| Heute findet die Weltmeister | Today, the World Champion | ||
| Im Rennen der internationalen Züge statt! | International Train Race takes place! | ||
| Wer wird gewinnen: | Who will win: | ||
| Diesel, | Diesel, | ||
| Elektrizität, | Electricity | ||
| Oder Dampf? | Or Steam? | ||
| Heut Nacht wird’s spannend | Tonight it's going to be exciting | ||
| Auf den Gleisen! | On the tracks! | ||
| MOTHER: | Zum letzten Mal, geh jetzt ins Bett! | MOTHER: | For the last time, go to bed! |
| CONTROL: | Ach Mama, | CONTROL: | But Mom, |
| Das ist die einzige lebendige Eisenbahn | This is the only living railway | ||
| Auf der ganzen Welt | In the whole world! | ||
| MOTHER: | Geh ins Bett. | MOTHER: | Go to bed. |
| CONTROL: | Ach Mama... | CONTROL: | Oh, mom... |
| MOTHER: | (sings) Starlight Express, Starlight Express, | Starlight Express, Starlight Express, | |
| Wo bist du? Sag es mir. | Where are you, tell me | ||
| Starlight Express, Starlight Express... | Starlight Express, Starlight Express... |
1997 Mexico + Translation[]
The "Obertura" in Expreso Astral [1]
| CONTROL (Spanish): | Trenes, aquí Control, | CONTROL (English): | Trains, here is Control |
| Aquí Control, | Here is Control | ||
| Hoy es la noche más importante | Tonight is the most important night | ||
| Para los trenes del mundo | For the trains of the world | ||
| Sientese gusto y prepárense, | Sit down comfortably and get ready, | ||
| Para la gran carrera panamericana | For the great American race | ||
| ¿Quién ganara? | Who will win? | ||
| ¿Será el tren de diesel? | Will it be the diesel train? | ||
| ¿El Eléctrico? | The electric? | ||
| O ¿de vapor? | Or steam? | ||
| La emoción está que arde en la estación | The emotion is burning in the station | ||
| Hagan sus apuestas | Make your bets | ||
| MADRE: | Mi amor, ya es hora de que control se duerma, | MOTHER: | My love, it's time for Control to sleep |
| Guarda tus trenes | Put away your trains | ||
| CONTROL: | Pero Mamá, nada más un ratito | CONTROL: | But mom, just for a little while |
| MADRE: | Guarda tus trenes y te duermes | MOTHER: | Put your trains away and go to sleep. |
| CONTROL: | ¿Pero como van a correr los trenes sin mí? | CONTROL: | But how will the trains run without me? |
| MADRE: | ¡Ay, estoy segura de que se las arreglaran a su manera! | MOTHER: | Oh, I'm sure they'll figure it out their own way. |
| Tu te duermes y ya! | Go to sleep now. | ||
| CONTROL: | Hasta mañana, Mami | CONTROL: | See you in the morning Mom. |
UK tour, 2004[]
The 2004 UK Tour used a slight variation on this script.
| CONTROL: | This is Control! This is Control! |
| Tonight is the most important night | |
| In the history of the world! | |
| Take your seats for the World Championship Railroad Race! | |
| Who will win? | |
| Will it be Diesel, | |
| Will it be Electric, | |
| Or will it be Steam? | |
| The tension is unbearable here at the track tonight! | |
| MOTHER: | Put those trains away! |
| CONTROL: | Oh mom, just five more minutes? |
| MOTHER: | Put them away and into bed! |
| CONTROL: | But... |
| MOTHER: | No buts! |
| (sings) Starlight Express, Starlight Express, | |
| Are you real? Are you near? | |
| Starlight Express... | |
| CONTROL: | This is control... This is control... |
| (into Entry of the National Engines) |
Workshop, 2017[]
The workshop added a few lines of dialogue and sound effects to clarify what's happening.
| CONTROL: | Attention! Attention everybody! |
| This is Control. This is Control. | |
| Tonight is the most important night | |
| In the history of the world! | |
| Take your seats for the World Championship Railroad Race! | |
| Who will win? | |
| Will it be Diesel, | |
| Will it be Electric, | |
| Or will it be Steam? | |
| The tension is unbearable here at the track tonight! | |
| MOTHER: | Put those trains away! |
| CONTROL: | Oh mom, just five more minutes. |
| MOTHER: | Put those trains away and get into bed. |
| CONTROL: | But how are they going to run without me? |
| MOTHER: | No 'buts'. Now go to sleep. |
| CONTROL: | Goodnight mom. |
| MOTHER: | (sings) Starlight Express, Starlight Express, |
| Are you real? Are you near? | |
| Starlight Express, Starlight Express... | |
| (Sound effect of Control's bedroom door closing) | |