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Original poster

STARLIGHT EXPRESS - anyone been to see it?

14 replies

Y0rkshirelass · 15/03/2007 13:55

What is it like? What is it all about? I have googled but it looks like it's all about trains.........?
My friend has asked if I'd like to go, and also take DD (9), is it suitable for kids?

OP posts:

MuminBrum · 15/03/2007 13:58

It's ghastly. I don't think it's unsuitable for kids, particularly, but it's incredibly boring.

stevie74 · 15/03/2007 13:58

I went in 1995. Thought it was great but didn't actually get much of what was going on as no-one told me it was about trains till after! (Surprise ticket, i'm not that dim )

DeviousDaffodil · 15/03/2007 14:00

I saw it in Cardiff two years ag o and loved it, and wished I HAD taken DS1 who is 7.
It is about trains but is a good story fantastic music and clever sets and costumes.
Really good fun. Not intellectual. But fun fun fun!!!

2boysmacca · 15/03/2007 14:02

I saw it about 5 times and loevd it. The music is superb and there is so much going on I think a 9 yr old will love it.

Original poster

Y0rkshirelass · 15/03/2007 14:03

Hmm, split opinions then!
Is it a very long show, and do you have to like trains to like it? (stupidest question of the year!)

OP posts:

DeviousDaffodil · 15/03/2007 14:04

I don't recall it being long or boring.
Don't need to be a train spotter to enjoy it.
Just need to like livlely loud, bright shows!

2boysmacca · 15/03/2007 14:07

Well I'm no trainspotter! No not at all. I'm sure you know, it's set on roller skates so is very very fast. It's about a locomotive and an express train and racing. Actually that makes it sound really crap, but it's not. I can't remember how long it is. I saw it the first time when I was about 15, the last time I saw it I was about 25. you can always walk out if you hate it, but defo take your dd.

mamama · 15/03/2007 14:08

I went to see it when I was about 9 and I LOVED it. Yes, it's about trains, but there is a storyline (don't remember it now though, so perhaps it isn't all that thrilling) and it was fun watching everyone whizzing round on skates. The music is great! (I'm a sucker for musicals though )

I would definitely go and see it and would take a child. HTH

MuminBrum · 15/03/2007 14:12

Not really split, a clear majority in favour of the darn thing! There must be something wrong with me.

Original poster

Y0rkshirelass · 15/03/2007 14:12

Thanks all. I read some reviews on the storyline and it did sound a bit bizarre. I think I will take her, she has enjoyed watching the celeb skating programme and I guess rollerskates will be a bit similar!

OP posts:

zephyrcat · 15/03/2007 14:13

I went to see it when I was little and I loved it! I still love the mmusic now! I want to take dd while it's on in our local but she's only 5 so might not be ready for it yet!

annh · 15/03/2007 21:02

Starlight Express is one of the shorter musicals and no, you don't have to like trains to like it. I went with dh last year and took ds1 (almost 8 at the time) back later in the run - I get the tix through work before anyone thinks I am made of money! I explained things to him a couple of times but he "got" most of it on his own. If you are watching it outside of London, they do not run the train race out into the auditorium the way they do in London (because most of the regional stages are smaller and the set-up involved would take too long and knock out too many seats in the venue) so they give you 3d glasses and at certain times you put them on and they show the race on a screen on the front of stage. This didn't spoil the show in any way for me and ds thought it was the highlight of the whole thing!

CristinaTheAstonishing · 15/03/2007 21:05

I took DS(7) and DD(just under 2 at the time) to see it. DS wasn't impressed. I hated it. We left about 10 minutes into the second act.

persephonesnape · 15/03/2007 22:45

i loathed it (free tickets also) it kept the children still and quiet throughout. there is a song entitled AC/DC, which you may have to explain /fudge over for the more curious child. all of the female characters are carriages, rather than engines, so they get to latch onto the beefy male engines in a strangely mechanical subservience. the songs are OK. I actually found them derivative and condescending ( they have a country number called u.n.c.o.u.p.l.i.n.g which is a direct rip of d.i.v.o.r.c.e. - and a jazz song - a blues number..and an obligatory hip hop number with the black characters.

I'm a musical purist. musicals should - in my book be about situations where the characters feel such love/joy/pain that talking about their feelings isn't enough and they have to SING! starlight express was just nasty i nparts. i felt it poked fun at something i loved.

but then, we're all off to see wicked in London in a fortnight, so i'm probably weird anyway! Hope you don't find it as tedious as i did.

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