Pearl the Observation Car
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1987 Japan/Australia tour logo
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Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music), Richard Stilgoe (lyrics), with later revisions by Don Black, David Yazbek, Alistair Lloyd Webber and Nick Coler. The actors famously perform wearing roller skates, with original choreography by Arlene Phillips. In the story, a child’s train set magically comes to life, and the various engines compete to become the "Fastest Engine in the World". The underdog, Rusty the steam train, has little chance until he is inspired by the legend of the Starlight Express, ultimately winning both the race and the heart of first-class coach Pearl.
It is one of the longest running musicals in West End history, with 7,408 performances; however, the Broadway production ran for only 761 performances. It is also the most popular musical show in Germany, where it has been performed continuously since 1988.
During the 1970s, Lloyd Webber planned a musical adaptation of Rev W. Awdry's Railway Series books, featuring Thomas the Tank Engine. However, Awdry refused to give Lloyd Webber permission to use his characters as he felt that Lloyd Webber wanted 'too much freedom' with Thomas, the other engines, and characters. Following this, Lloyd Webber re-conceived the idea as "a Cinderella story" in which Rusty stands for Cinderella; Greaseball and Electra become the stepsisters; and the Starlight Express is the fairy godmother.
The following is a synopsis of the Original London production
Act One
The show opens with the voice of Control (whom the audience never sees) ordering his toy trains to racing mode. As Control begins to fall asleep, still murmuring his instructions, the trains begin to skate around the track (Overture). Greaseball and his gang of diesel trains interrupt, singing their own praises (Rolling Stock). Greaseball dares anyone to challenge him in a race.
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