Bobo is a French TGV (Train à Grand Vitesse"- "high speed train", though in the London production he was identified as "the 120 mile-per-hour Sudest")
Personality
He is comically French in his character and over-the-top mannerisms. Bobo is often heard ad-libbing French phrases in reaction to the events around him.
Role
In the original London production, Bobo raced with Ashley in heat 3 and was narrowly beaten by Poppa with Dustin. He is heard clearly in The Rap arguing that rather than Rusty taking Poppa's place, Bobo should as he came a close second. In the later version of the London show, when two racers from each heat make the final, Bobo and Ashley take the fourth place but are knocked out during the final race.
In the Broadway and subsequent productions, Bobo races with Buffy not Ashley, and does not make the final.
In the Japan/Australia tours, Bobo had an identical "brother" by the name of Coco. The ensemble roles were doubled to fill the enormous arena-sized stage.
Bobo was replaced in the Mexican production, and cut from the 2003 US and 2004 UK tours.
The actor who plays Bobo often understudies Electra and/or Rusty.
Coco the Eurostar
In 2018, the Bochum production underwent significant revisions for the show's 30th anniversary. This included altering Bobo to the Coco Chanel-inspired token Female Engine. She received a new costume design, wearing the French Flag as a skirt, and although she clearly is branded "TGV", she is designated "The Underwater Train", the "Eurostar". This train, in real life, travels between Britain, France and Belgium, and is not specifically a French entity. It travels through the Channel Tunnel, hence the reference to the "Underwater train". She races with Belle the Bar Car.
Appearance
Gallery
Cast
London
1984 - 1985 | Tom Jobe / Marcus D'Amico |
1985 - 1986 | Nick Lloyd |
1986 - 1987 | Norman Warren |
1987 - 1988 | Greg Ellis / Robert Yeal |
1988 - 1990 | ? |
1990 - 1991 | David Ashley |
1991 - 1992 | Michael Gyngell |
1992 - 1993 | Stuart Scott |
1993 - 1994 | Matthew Cutts |
1994 - 1995 | Stuart Cross |
1995 - 1996 | David Hulston |
1996 - 1997 | Nicholas Bonner |
1997 - 1998 | Nigel Thomas |
1998 - 1999 | Stuart Sweeting |
1999 - 2001 | Barry McNeill |
2001 - 2002 | Richard Woodford |
Broadway
1987 - 1988 | AC Ciulla |
1988 - 1989 | Brian Carmack |
Japan / Australia Tours
1987 | Bobo | Mitch Sebastian |
Coco | Stefan Reekie | |
1990 | Bobo | Tomotaka Sugimoto |
Coco | Yuki Yasutoko |
Bochum, Germany
1988 - 1989 | Allan Edwards |
1989 - 1990 | Ramon Visser / T. Robert Pigott |
1990 - 1991 | Michael Petersson |
1991 - 1992 | Glenn Neate |
1992 - 1994 | Steven M Schultz |
1994 - 1995 | John Williford |
1995 - 1999 | Tom Moneypenny |
1999 - 2000 | Adriano Agostino |
2000 - 2001 | Philippe Hall |
2001 - 2002 | Michael Petersson |
2002 - 2003 | Greg Castiglioni |
2003 - 2005 | Pharic Scott |
2005 - 2006 | Duane McGregor |
2006 - 2008 | Lucas Glover |
2008 - 2009 | Nathan Sloan |
2009 - 2010 | Carl Patrick Morris |
2010 - 2012 | Austin Garrett |
2012 - 2013 | Tom Audibert |
2013 - 2015 | Jeffrey Socia |
2015 - 2017 | Darren John |
2017 - 2018 | Daniel Holley |
2018 - 2019 | Clare Maynard (As Coco) |
2019 - 2020 | Whitney Martins |
2020 - 2021 | Molly McGuire (Cancelled due to Covid) |
2021 - 2023 | Molly McGuire |
US Tour 1989 - 1991
1989 - 1991 | Peter Liciaga |
Las Vegas 1993 - 1997
1993 - 1994 | Victor L. Butler |
1994 - 1995 | Buddy Casimano |
1995 - 1996 | ? |
1996 - 1997 | Leigh Bucknam |
US Tour 2003 - 2004 (Cut)
UK Tours 2004 - 2008 (Cut)
NZ Tour 2009 (Cut)
UK Tour 2012-2013 (Cut)