STARLIGHT EXPRESS - Anyone been to see, any good?

[CornishTeaTime]

I saw the original years ago and loved it! Fast and exciting, loved all the songs.

Anyone been to see the new one, any good, worth a visit?

Watching with interest too.
Saw this years ago with dm so would love to arrange a trip to London for her to see it again.

Just spotted your username.
Are you in Cornwall too?

Ah no in Coventry West Mids

Yes I saw it about 20 or so years ago. Really good fun and great to watch

It’s the same but different.
if you go expecting a replica of 20-30yrs ago you’ll be disappointed.
they’ve removed some songs, changed characters, added new songs. Control is a real live child now on a scooter.

Do they still skate through and around the audience?

Yes, but it’s not as interactive as the original. If you google a seat plan for it you can see the design

The original was my first ever West End show, probably circa 1996? I loved it. No idea about the new one, but I’d love to see it!

They've changed it. I saw the original maybe 15 times in London. I had family members working there who were able to get us in. Such cherished memories I don't think I can go back and see this version.

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 Or just ditch the song because catcalling and woof whistling at women is indeed outdated.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"

@Donostio 😂 I just wanted to call out "pick rusty" when we was dithering over who to choose...
I semi enjoyed it, saw the original but didn't really remember it- was quite fun having the cast whizz by and nice lighting and set design. We sat in the tiered bit but in the middle which we thought was perfect, quite low down