Starlight Express
Wed, 27th Mar 13
The original version of Starlight Express ran for 18 years at the Apollo Victoria theatre until it hit the buffers in 2002. A touring version did the rounds between 2004 and 2008 and this current version started in 2012 replacing the original tracks around the auditorium with 3-D projection. Just a personal note ... I saw this on the 50th anniversary of Dr Beechings damaging report on the UK railway system ... sigh.
Starlight Express is more about the spectacle than the songs, and is certainly not about the story, which is pretty slight at best. Repetitive lyrics and choreography abound and it really doesn't pay to thionk too hard about what you're watching. The 3-D projection worked a lot better than I expected but there was little connection between the performers (who worked their bloomin' little socks off) and the audience - the louder you scream the faster they go, well, guess it was a slow night.
Perhaps this is one for a younger audience, they'll be able to follow the plot (its about as complex aas a Thomas the Tank Engine episode) and the skating, lighting and sound really are very good. Sorry, I really wanted to love this ....
