.png)
REVIEW | Andrew Lloyd Webber's - Starlight Express: Live on Stage
Updated: 4 hours ago
AD | Tickets gifted in exchange of an honest review. All views are our own.
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe’s Starlight Express has had quite the long journey since first opening in London’s West End in 1984. From its many different iterations around the globe, including the record-breaking production in Germany, to its long-awaited 2024 Wembley revival, the musical has now hit the cinemas. The latest London production has finally been professionally captured on film (directed by Brett Sullivan) for everyone to enjoy.
Starlight Express takes place inside a child’s dream. In his bedroom, a young boy announces to his mum that tonight is race night, and as he’s being sung to sleep, we enter a fantastical world where his toy trains come to life in shining, futuristic costumes, racing around him on roller skates. The boy, known as Control (George Jones), is directing and judging the race as he introduces us to the different characters, the Engines: the reigning champion, the diesel train Greaseball (Olivia Ringrose), the new and futuristic electric train Electra (Asher Forth), and finally the young and naïve steam train Rusty (Jeevan Braich). Rusty wants to compete in the big race but is quickly discouraged by those around him: Why bother trying to take down the aggressive Greaseball and the seemingly unstoppable Electra?
There is a LOT going on in this musical. Actors are constantly rolling in and out, playing different train coaches, freight trucks and all sorts of other railway characters. There are even performers on scooters, pulling off some impressive acrobatics. It can be a little overwhelming at first, and keeping track of everyone isn't always easy, but we gradually get introduced to the different characters and their motivations. Songs like Rolling Stock, AC/DC and Crazy help establish who everyone is and what they are all about, respectively: Greaseball, Electra and Rusty.
The race is about to begin, and Control announces that each engine must find a coach to race alongside them. Here we meet observation car Pearl (Sophie Naglik), the newest addition to the track, as she’s looking for her dream train. Rusty immediately falls head over wheels for her, yet the connection is quickly broken when he asks her to race with him, maybe as more than friends, but she’s not yet decided on what to do (Make Up My Mind). Confused Pearl partners with Electra and later Greaseball, this last pairing causes quite the stir, as, of course, Greaseball is dating Dinah (Georgia Pemberton), the dining coach, who is left feeling heartbroken!
Rusty, meanwhile, has to deal with rejection and his own insecurities. After sort of praying to Starlight Express (apparently debated within the fandom what Starlight Express actually is, a god perhaps?), he eventually proves his worth by believing in himself and managing to win the race and win over Pearl with his kindness.
I will admit that the romance isn't the show's strongest element. Rusty and Pearl’s relationship feels a little underdeveloped, even though their duet I Do is a gorgeous, touching ballad; there's simply so much happening that their relationship doesn't get enough space to shine, and as a first-time viewer, I didn't immediately connect with them as a pair.
Ultimately, Starlight Express is an incredibly fun watch. The songs are catchy and will quickly get stuck in your head. The performers deserve enormous credit for roller-skating, singing, dancing and performing acrobatics simultaneously for two continuous hours. A personal highlight is a new character: Hydra, the flirty hydrogen truck, who gets a fantastic number added in this revival. Hydrogen, written especially for the production by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe, is a hit. Jaydon Vijn brings so much energy to the performance, not only through the music but also with some impressive tricks on wheels, and it’s the first song I wanted to listen to again as soon as I left the cinema! A huge shoutout goes also to Jade Marvin, who plays Control’s mom in real life and Rusty’s mom in the dream, for having a voice like butter; her vocals on Momma’s Blues and Light At The End of The Tunnel are to die for.
The movie felt like a great introduction for people like me, who have never seen the show, and a perfect rewatchable pro-shot for long-time fans. Starlight Express is such a unique musical that it calls for equally unique filming and editing techniques. From wide shots that capture the grandeur of the stage to helmet-mounted cameras following performers during races, the film makes great use of its format. Video-game-inspired editing, live feeds of the racers and a scoreboard also help keep track of the action. With so much happening at once, these techniques make the show much easier to follow. Other musical theatre pro-shots should aspire to be this well produced!
Whether you're a long-time fan or a newcomer like me, Starlight Express: Live on Stage is well worth catching at a cinema near you. Choo, choo, all aboard!
★★★★
You can catch Starlight Express: Live on Stage at the Cinemas on 26th of November. With tickets on sale now: https://www.starlightexpressincinemas.com/home/
You can also catch it live on stage as it heads out on world tour next year:
