Starlights Musical History Starlight Express, lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and music by Andrew L. Webber. The story of Rusty, the pathetic little steam engine, wanting to make it big time in the races started of with Andrew wanting to make a musical for his kids. Although 'Cats' had been running amazingly since 1981, and could have been deemed suitable for children, the heavy opera numbers such as 'Growltigers last stand' made 'Cats' to be seen as quite a heavy musical. Starlight channeled out of this effect by Andrew inventing some truly memorable songs to liven an audience up and keep them awake (it is impossible to get bored of Starlight).

He also managed to retain beautiful harmonys with the likes of the reprising theme of 'Starlight Express', 'I am the Starlight' and 'Only He'. Thus keeping a serious nature at what could have been deemed an 'insane musical'.

Choosing exactly the right cast to play the wonderfully outlined characters was also extremley well done in Starlight Express. Ray Shell with his amazing voice and bright yet vulnerable face for Rusty, Frances Ruffle, cute and sweet, an absolutle gem for the role of Dinah and of course the wonderful Lon Statton definatley the only man who can play Poppa and not feel like a prat.

The problem was when re-modeling was done on the show in 1992. Many expected bigger and better things and I suspect this was the original plan but with the ridiculous cutting of two of the most loved characters 'Belle' and 'C.B' also came the re-modeling of the songs. What on earth possessed Andrew to re-write the amazing dance track 'He Whistled at me'? The song, orginally sung as a fast, fiery little number was changed to a slow (and what I presume was meant to be) thoughtful piece of soul. Well it was a dull way to begin another ten years or so of musical fame! The only decent thing about the new Starlight Express was the fact John Partridge played Electra. Only John, can perform the 'weirdo' of the show which he did perfectly. Persoanlly I felt Reva Rice had a voice a little too deep for Pearl and would have been cast excently as Belle but oh...no...wait they cut her out of the show in 1992! Of course there were many other cast changes after this (duh!) but these are the actors and actresses on the 1992 recording and unfortunatley it does not do the show must justice.

Starlight Express closed in January 2002, (probably due to poor ticket sales) and Andrew unable to realise that people would have flocked in their thousands just to get a last glimpse of the old 1984 version decided not to re-do the whole musical again. Another reason for it's closure was to make way for the utterly humiliating Bombay Dreams. This cheap, and effortless take on the popularity of bhangra at the time was coming from the man who was knighted by the Queen and produced some of the greatest musicals of all time. Even though the new Starlight Express failed to reach its potential it still held some class for its lengthy history, Bombay Dreams is a complete waste. (See full reviews on Bombay Dreams in Critics choice)

Her ability to sing 'I Dreamed a Dream' from Les Miserables is enough inspiration for me to further my passion and career within the London stage. There are just a few special female performers that can inspire and these are those truly great girls with an undying fiery, love for what they do and how they do it. The likes of Lea Salonga, Sarah Brightman and Elaine Paige long hold firm standing within the musical theatre history, and Ruthie definatley deserves her place. She's an absolute star. (You can see Ruthie playing Velma Kelly in Chigago at the Adelphi Theatre in London shortly)

Hail to the 80's!

The 1980's were certainly the peak of the West End! Cats began the 80's in true style becoming not only a major hit but the longest running musical in musical theatre history. Following this sucsess Mr Webber created Starlight Express another huge hit and the secound longest running musical! In the mid 80's saw the debut of probably the two strongest musicals in history, Les Miserables and The Phantom of the Opera. Still pulling in full houses every night (although I do suspect the wonderful Les Mis will hit a rut in a year or two), the two musicals became instant hits and gave worldwide sucsess to Boubil and Shoenberg and of course Mr Webber. Probably the best musical of the 1980's representing the terible Vietnam war of the 70's was the heart wrenching Miss Saigon. Critics said the musical score by frenchman Boubil and Shoenberg was bland. They must have been deaf then because you have never heard so many powerful harmonys crammed into one show! Strangly enough only Les Mis and Phantom are still running in the West End so see them quickly before they take them away and place them with some disastorous commercialy-appealing musical like Bombay Dreams. You may have missed your chance to see Miss Saigon and the others but I guarantee in a few years they will be back!