Starlight Express
Starlight Express
My passion for musicals started in March 1990 when I visited Bochum and it's musical "Starlight Express" with some classmates and our music- teacher not knowing anything about musicals. From this evening I love this fast musical and I started looking for information about musicals. One of the reasons is surely my favourite musical actor (Kapa Kitchen,NZ) which fascinated me as "Rusty" that evening. But in 1999 I had the pleasure to find out that he really was even better as Caboose. Some people say that he is the best Caboose ever. In the meanwhile I have seen 6 different actors in this role and in my opinion he is really the best. In April 2000 he went back to New Zealand. (How did I get interested in NZ one day? *whistles*) In March 2004 he came back to Bochum and from June 2004 he is first cast Caboose again.
I have seen quiet a lot musicals by now (16 all together) and there have been a few that I liked very much. But not a single one could become No. 1 of my personal hit list. Starlight will be my favourite forever. The other musicals I have seen are:
In July 2002 I was afraid of loosing my favourite musical for many days. There have been a few rumours of closing down the musical but I did not believed them because Starlight Express is the most popular musical of the world. A lot of musicals had been closed that year. Saturday night fever for example was closed on 30th of June 2002 in Cologne. That should have been the last day of Starlight as well because Stella (organiser of the musical) became insolvent and did not find a new organiser until July. I was very disappointed that I did not visit the show a last time. Then I heard that they would still play in July while they tried to find a new organiser. I bought a ticket immediately. When I was standing in the theatre I could not believe to see all this for the last time and it made me feeling very sad. I really hoped that it would not end. And my prayers must have been heard because in the news they told us about a new organiser. Starlight was safe!
For those who haven't seen Starlight Express yet I will shortly tell about the story:
This musical tells the story of a little boy who is dreaming of a world championship of his toy trains. So the trains get human characteristics and fight against each other. To make the audience live this dream the actors act on skates. Every train or wagon has a name, a characteristic and a kind of music that matches the characteristic. The diesel-train is called "Greaseball" and his music is Rock'n Roll. "Papa" is the name of the old steam-train and he lives the blues. "Dinah" the dining-car sings country-style…. The trains have to manage with intrigue, battle, love and lovesickness. And in all this mess is Rusty the young steam-train who does not know what to do until Papa shows the right way to him with help of the "Starlight Express". The last race counts….
The races take place on three levels right through the audience. In 2002 the change the theatre a little and build a third track through the pit. So you sit in the midst of the action. The most expensive tickets are at the tracks through the audience of course. But I prefer to sit in the pit although I have to turn around for the races. Most of the show is on the stage and I like to be as close to the stage as possible. It is the best place to watch the mimic of the actors.
It is the whole concept of this musical that fascinates me. Everything fits perfectly together: story, characters, music, choreography, light, Make-up, stage, costumes…. just everything! I have seen this musical already 7 times although this is not very much for a big fan. 7 visits in 14 years are not very much….. *grins*
Every year on the first Monday of the summer holidays there is a open day at Starlight where you can have a look behind the scenes. For example there is a light-and skate-show every year, Autograph-hours of some actors, make-up for children and a stage in front of the theatre with a nice program the whole day. Mostly they show actors from other musicals or actors from Starlight with there own shows and the Starlight Band. Sometimes they sell properties by auction for charity reasons. And if you are really totally crazy you can join in the playback-contest. There is the chance to win tickets for the show. You might sing live as well and who has got a self-made costume might be lucky….
Yes, there are some crazy fans that start sewing their own costume(s) with the aid of the programs and pictures. It is more kind of handicraft. You might guess now that I am one of these crazy fans. So here is my coming-out. I have already been to the open day with my very own Caboose-costume and I have been on this stage for the contest as well singing "Dein Freund" live with a friend of mine. And I have to tell you that it is a lot of fun to see the faces of the children as soon as they see anybody with a costume. But you have to be aware of the fact that you will have to write autographs and pose for pictures the whole day. The kids do not care if you are the "real" one or just a fan. That's very exhausting but it is so much fun as well to see those shiny eyes of the kids. So you forget your aching feet.
And another caution: It is dangerous to start sewing costumes because it will become addicted to it. As soon as you finish one you want to start the next. But it takes a lot of time to make one and you need to be very creative. The pictures don't show all the details how the costumes are realised. You have to think of fabrics and how to fix them by yourself. So be creative!
One of my favourite materials is called "Moosgummi" in German. I have no idea what it is called in English, sorry. You can use it for quiet a lot of things. But sometimes you have to search for another material but that is most of the fun.
And when the other fans at the open day ask how you realised it so well it feels really good. Or if adults ask you if you are one of the actors because your costumes looks so original it is like heaven. But best of all is when the original actor looks at your costume and thinks it is good! *sigh* It feels nearly better than a bungy-jump!
So why don't you go there and watch it next time?