The New Starlight Express - SPOILERS

[SanFranBear]

I went you see the new Starlight Express production yesterday in Wembley after watching it many many times when it was at the Apollo in the 90s...

It is sooooooo very different - some for the good but also some which I don't think work that well.

I thought I'd see what anyone else thinks who might have a view? I'm back to see it in two weeks with my best friend who is as devoted a fan as I am so will be able to chat to her about it then but I'd love to chat now?

Also interested to hear from anyone who's watching for the first time... its just the best show!!

Good:

• Clear my tracks - I loved the sense of occasion that brings to the races!
• Costumes are next level
• Electra still has the BEST entrance of any of the racers but taken to new extremes!
• Momma in place of Poppa - what an incredible voice!!!

Bad:

• Control being on stage - having a little kid running around did nothing for me
• No more different nationalities for the trains - I know why but noooooo
• They changed Starlight Express, the song 😮 ...can't believe they did that, to be honest!
• The races were soooooo slow!
• Three singers for One Rock n Roll too many - it was always a duet!!

I don't want to slate it too much as I still loved it and the cast were incredible and it's on bloody roller skates!! But definitely missing some of the old school magic...

Anyone else agree?

Hi - I saw it today! Very good production - I can't remember the original as well as you though sorry so can't comment!
I wasn't keen on the control girl, seemed a bit odd. Loved the skater kids and the costumes. Races did see slow. I'm not a huge musicals fan so bits were a bit 🤨 for me but enjoyable nonetheless
Most gave it a standing ovation so must have loved it!

I wouldn't set too much in store by the standing ovation. Ever since we were allowed back into concert halls & theatres, everything gets a standing ovation. Even if it's shit 🙄

@PsychoSyd 😂 I know what you mean! Some of these guys seemed to really love it though 🤪

Yes, we went yesterday. I only saw it once the first time round. My partner saw it five times when she was little. Overall she was disappointed that the characters weren't the originals and it didn't have a similar feeling.

We both thought Pearl was a pathetic lead female character - undermining the gender balancing. Rusty was limp too.

The conversation about whistling at Pearl was laboured and painful. Have him whistle at her or not. Have her object or not, and move on. Or just ditch the song because catcalling and woof whistling at women is indeed outdated.

Pearl was agonising about whether to go to race with Elektra or Rusty and yet she'd never even met Elektra! The controller assigned Pearl to Elektra and then a moment later the script had Rusty say that she had chosen to go with Elektra.

She had no agency or decision making and was such a depressingly, frustratingly pathetic female character for this day and age. I thought the whole thing was just a bit naf to be honest.

I remember the races being fast and thrilling, circus style, yesterday it was not at all. It seems very slow and tame, no sense or illusion of spectacle or thrill.

We ask our 10-year-old daughter what she made of it and she said, "It was alright"