Starlight Express

As this was my first viewing of Starlight Express I've decided that probably the fairest way to structure this review in two parts: part one as a review of the show itself and part two of the performance I attended. That way my status as a Starlight Express virgin won't reflect on the performers themselves.

I don't want to list my credentials, but I feel that I'm fairly well qualified to cast judgement on musicals.

The Show

The show tells the story of a boy's dream about an epic race between his toy trains. It's a classic tale of love, conflict and a plucky underdog.

Story wise I failed to find the magic. Yes I understand that it's about a child's imagination running wild, but I didn't feel the heart in the concept I had hoped for. It just felt absurd.

Too many characters are introduced in too short a time. The result? A massive ensemble of nameless soloists and a complete lack of any investment in any of them. By far the best character was that of Electra - the new model electric train who's over-the-top persona made for on-stage fun.

I didn't know any of the songs coming in and I didn't know any more when I left. The songs lack any memorable, hummable tune - no catch. The lyrics are middle-of-the-road at best. Not one of them has stuck with me and that's just not good enough from a Lloyd-Webber musical.

It's no Phantom, Joseph, Jesus Christ, Evita. Thanks to the magic of the movies I've been able to discover a few amazing musicals recently (Hairspray and Sweeney Todd for example) - so it's not just that I'm unwilling to expand my repertoire. Unfortunately the show is memorable only for it's mediocrity.

The Performance

Vector arena has been eviscerated for it's poor acoustics and I would like to think that it was this and not the performers that so underwhelmed me. Either way the net result is a very sub-par vocal and orchestral showing. The parts of Rusty and Electra has by far the strongest voices although the former had a nasty habit of sounding like a 12 year old girl.

The skating was fun. It added something to the show which the songs, story and singing did not. Much credit for this should go to the stunt skaters - professionals, I assume, who did not singing. The remaining attraction of the skating was more to do with half-fears (or perhaps hopes) that skaters would fall off the stage. Special mention goes to the hip-hop freighters.

I really don't know what to say beyond this. I'm at a loss to explain the show's success and hope like anything that Mama Mia! proves more entertaining when it graces our stages later in the year.

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1 Star