Starlight Express tour

Karma76 Profile Photo
Karma76
#0Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:05pm

anyone catch this??? I am debating on going. I have never seen it but this one is like a 3d something or other so wonder if anyone saw it and what they thought.

BwayTheatre11
#1re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:07pm

All I have heard is that they changed it a lot. All I really think it is a stunt show with singing.


CCM '10!

CATSNYrevival Profile Photo
CATSNYrevival
#2re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:09pm

I was thinking about going when it was in San Diego, and ended up not going. I regret it now, just cuz' I wish I coulda seen the lights and the 3D movie. get some cheap tickets and have some fun. why not?...

Karma76 Profile Photo
Karma76
#3re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:12pm

I thought of doing same day tickets to get them half priced...what is the 3D thing though???

CATSNYrevival Profile Photo
CATSNYrevival
#4re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:16pm

I dunno. All I know is that it's a 3D movie and I think you get glasses with your playbill. Just go and give us a report.

Karma76 Profile Photo
Karma76
#5re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:19pm

oh jesus...hahaha i have to wear 3D glasses..haha I may have to just to report back on it.

~*Triple Star On Broadway*~ Profile Photo
~*Triple Star On Broadway*~
#6re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:35pm

I don't think 3d glasses are going to change th fact that its horrible. ( my apologies to those who enjoy this show)


You've gotta have heart AND music

CATSNYrevival Profile Photo
CATSNYrevival
#7re: re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 4:40pm

hey, I didn't see it so I can't say. I just think the idea of a 3D movie is kinda cool. Even if it is just to try and butter up a crapy show.

Shawk Profile Photo
Shawk
#8re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 5:42pm

Having been traumatized by this show as my first ever professional production, 3D glasses are an unlikely incentive to lure me back.


'"Contrairiwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."' ~Lewis Carroll

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Mister Matt
#9re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 5:46pm

Before the show had been tinkered out of control, it was actually quite good. I saw the original tour and it was spectacular for its time. When I saw the "new" version in London, it was just awful. The sets were great, but the performances were phoned in and the changes in score and book cheapened the show further and took what was once a charming modern fable and mangled it into a bad MTV video.


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

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Shawk
#10re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 5:59pm

^ I think the "New" London show was what I saw. Ow. It would have been 1992/3-ish?


'"Contrairiwise," continued Tweedledee, "if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn't, it ain't. That's logic."' ~Lewis Carroll

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Menken Fan
#11re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 6:06pm

If this is the same tour I saw last year here in Chicago, it was pretty good as far as the show goes. The "3-D" part took place during the race sequences. Where they used to skate around the theater in the early productions, now they show a 3-D movie and signal you to put on your "safety goggles" (the 3-D glasses).

This production also added a roller blader, who performed a few added stunts. Personally, I like the music in this show and enjoyed this production.

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PB ENT.
#12re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 6:51pm

If you're interested, I dug up a review I did for another site. Sorry I don't have time to re-format or link it. This one was a far cry from the Broadway Show, but if you're a Starlight fan, it'll do.


Starlight Express: Thomas the Train it’s Not!
By: Pati Buehler

From the moment you catch a glimpse of the ramps on the dark stage and the ushers handing out cardboard 3-D glasses you might get the impression that you’ve enter a circus arena. With the theater smoke filling the stage and the skaters zooming out one by one, you may not have a clue where this is all going.

Based on a young boy’s imagination and love of trains, he recreates a late night race, a battle between trains. Steam trains, diesel trains, electric trains all taking on specific personalities and with one goal; to win the race.

Looking much like “transformers” the action figures of the 80’s, a cast of 24 skaters speed up and down ramps, whisk on and off the stage as they develop into their characters through song. Just when I was ready to write this off as a live video game adventure, it hit me. This is “Cats on wheels!”

Once I realized that, I knew what direction this was going. It’s time to put away my ‘meaningful theatrical expectations ‘. If nothing else, I couldn’t help but to be impressed with the creativity of costumes, lighting and movement of “Starlight Express,” which boasts an 18-year run in London’s West End and 7 Tony nominations including best costume design in 1987.

The music is a combination of pop, rock, rap, gospel and blues, a trait that Andrew Lloyd Weber seems to enjoy mixing in his musicals. Not only can these wheeled engines skate but with a few pretty impressive voices.

Rusty, (Franklin Warfield) the shy steam engine, turns out to be the “little engine that could” and did as he not only wins the race, but the affection of the crowd with heartfelt rendition of the show’s theme song “ Starlight Express”. His main squeeze, a cute little observation car named Pearl (Clarissa Grace), needs a little oil on her wheels and tends to be a little weak in her solos, but comes through nicely in a lovely duet with Rusty “The Next Time you Fall in Love.” Dustin Dubreuil plays the Rocky-like Electra, the electric train whose AC/DC get a bit fried in the race. Unlike it’s predecessors, this staging of the tour doesn’t allow for a live race but reduces itself to a very unimpressive and corny filmed race, which the audience is asked to view through those 3-D glasses.

But the train that stops us all in our tracks has to be Poppa, (Dennis LeGree) the gutsy steam train. Much like Old Deuteronomy he grabs your attention with a powerful voice and probably the only true glimmer of acting.

Surprisingly by middle of the second act, the audience is beginning to connect to the “trains”. But remember millions of people came out to see actors, who dressed and acted like cats, who dressed like dogs and pirates!

By the end of the show the crowd is clapping along to a soulful rendition of “Light At The End of the Tunnel” lead by an old steam train named Poppa and many jumped to their feet for a standing ovation.

Cast includes: Franklin Warfield, Clarissa Grace, Drue Williams, Dustin Dubreuil, Katie O’Toole, Jeremy Kocal, Kait L. Holbrock, Joanna Lougran-Richert, Russell H. Saylor III, Scott Martin, Orren Webber, W. Louis, Stephen Wogisch, Robyn Hurder, Arron Coulson, Brandon Warner, Kristofer L. Stock, Robert E. Roby III, Jared Lee, Dennis LeGree, B. Tucker Rotundo


Music by: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lyrics by: Richard Stilgoe and David Yazbek, Costumes by: John Napier, Original London and Broadway Production Directed by Tevor Nunn, Directed and Choreographed by: Arlene Phillips

“Starlight Express” runs at the Academy of Music, Phila. Pa. through Sept. 14.

Tickets and information: 215.893.1955 or visit www.kimmelcenter.org


www.pbentertainmentinc.com BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"
Updated On: 3/31/04 at 06:51 PM

Cutielyricist Profile Photo
Cutielyricist
#13re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 9:55pm

Saw it in Los Angeles. Its hmmm...words dont even explain the expience. but one thing stood out. Kait L. Holbrook as Ashley the smoking Car. Totally amazed by her. I found myself waiting for her to enter the stage in every scene.

She was smokin!

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NYUstud
#14re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 3/31/04 at 11:02pm

I saw it last summer in Dallas, on the front row. I thought it was pretty good...not the best production ever. The 3D isn't is a creative idea, but it doesn't give the excitement that having the actual races all over the stage and audience. I would say it is worth seeing, but don't spend too much money on tickets.


"So much of me is made of what I learned from you. You'll be with me like a handprint on my heart."-Wicked

Juliette Capulet
#15re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 4/1/04 at 2:53am

I'm seeing it this Sunday.

Tendres Baisers,
Juliette Capulet

Karma76 Profile Photo
Karma76
#16re: re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 4/1/04 at 8:59am

will you let us know your thoughts too. Yeah if I go see it I am doing Bostix if they are available there. For some reason I always wanted to see this..just to see it I guess. But I thought the race was the big scene? How can they 3D it? That seems sad.

PB ENT. Profile Photo
PB ENT.
#17re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 4/1/04 at 9:20am

Karma~ the race may be the goal that they prep for. But much of the focus is on the characters they "try" to build in those skating engines. It's hard to explain and easier to just watch it.

The race had to be modified somehow to fit the touring production. Unlike Bd'w where a stationery skate platform could be built, they were forced to improvise. During the race scenes, you are told to put on your glasess. The actors leave the stage and the race is held on a giant screen. It's hokey as hell...but then we are talking about people dressed as skating, singing train engines. It fits in well!

This show is perfect for kids about 6-12... kinda like Sesame Street Live! Leave it to that creative, wacky ole ALW to come up with this one. His mum may have fed him too many crumpets before bedtime!


www.pbentertainmentinc.com BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"

Karma76 Profile Photo
Karma76
#18re: re: re: re: re: re: re: re: Starlight Express tour
Posted: 4/1/04 at 9:22am

haha thanks for the explanation.