1,210 posts
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Post by musicalmarge on Sept 19, 2018 10:06:07 GMT
Having done the show 20 years later i am paying for it. My back is a mess. So many others I know who have done the show have had operations, back and hip issues too - not to mention the many many injuries cast members had each year. About 4 people left in my year.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 10:46:00 GMT
If the EU were to blame, how do they get away with it in Bochum? I get the impression it is more along the lines of 'you wouldn't get away with that today'. Something that is already there is easier to keep than making something new. I'd imagine you could have a purpose built arena type theatre made but quite an investment!
Indeed; and the Bochum theatre was purpose built from scratch. With the Apollo Victoria they literally tore apart an old London theatre and put a race track round it, even running up to the circle. I don't think either planning permissions or health and safety would allow it now as these buildings are old and protected. Something purpose built here would be great, but would just never happen as would need to run years to break even. The revivals of shows that were massive 1st time round (Evita, Cats, Sunset, Miss Saigon) don't run longer than a year or two when they come back and sadly I think Starlight would be the same. The above revivals were visited by people who had great memories the 1st time round but struggled to find a new audience to keep them going. Could Starlight find a new audience in the era of the jukebox, bio musicals, and the teenage angst soft pop American stuff? I'd LOVE it to, but I do doubt it sadly. |
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Post by viserys on Sept 19, 2018 10:56:07 GMT
Could Starlight find a new audience in the era of the jukebox, bio musicals, and the teenage angst soft pop American stuff? I'd LOVE it to, but I do doubt it sadly. I love that description  I think Starlight Express might well work still as a singular spectacle on roller skates, but it's hard to tell. Cats used to be a show that enchanted the masses and now it's being met with ridicule by many younger musical lovers (while I, as an oldie, fail to see what the fuss about many new shows is about). I don't think it would be worth completely redesigning a West End theatre the way they did with the Apollo Victoria in those days (even if a race track would get rid of those pesky hard-to-sell side stalls seats at the Dominion). They should consider a tour in a tent-like venue built for the purpose, which they could even take outside the UK later. Apart from Bochum Starlight Express has never been seen in continental Europe. |
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Post by Seriously on Sept 19, 2018 11:06:04 GMT
I always thought the reason they couldn't do it over here was because of changed Health & Safety regs? Maybe a post-Brexit West End will be able to accommodate it? If the EU were to blame, how do they get away with it in Bochum? Because Bochum predates the law. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 11:20:02 GMT
Could Starlight find a new audience in the era of the jukebox, bio musicals, and the teenage angst soft pop American stuff? I'd LOVE it to, but I do doubt it sadly. I love that description I think Starlight Express might well work still as a singular spectacle on roller skates, but it's hard to tell. Cats used to be a show that enchanted the masses and now it's being met with ridicule by many younger musical lovers (while I, as an oldie, fail to see what the fuss about many new shows is about). I don't think it would be worth completely redesigning a West End theatre the way they did with the Apollo Victoria in those days (even if a race track would get rid of those pesky hard-to-sell side stalls seats at the Dominion). They should consider a tour in a tent-like venue built for the purpose, which they could even take outside the UK later. Apart from Bochum Starlight Express has never been seen in continental Europe. Haha - that's sort of how I see them. I find the music in these shows so mediocre, but so many people (vast majority younger than me at 41) are clearly connecting with them. One thing in Starlight's favour is that think will still be a family show - kids love the spectacle and the skates. Gosh you've got me thinking about the Dominion. Stalls are indeed very wide and rarely sell out so removing seats for a fab stalls track wouldn't lose much income from unsold seats. Hmmmm and could it pretty please have a bridge and rise to the circle? (Or am I just living in the past lol) |
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Post by ada92 on Sept 19, 2018 11:22:48 GMT
Like tHe CATS German tour in 2012ish - it was a great venue - only problem sometimes you heard some external noise - but as long as it wasn't in the quiet bits it was very good. Saw this in a German Winter and it was also nicely heated!
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2,676 posts
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Post by viserys on Sept 19, 2018 11:26:56 GMT
Haha - that's sort of how I see them. I find the music in these shows so mediocre, but so many people (vast majority younger than me at 41) are clearly connecting with them. Indeed. I feel like Dear Evan Hansen has the heart in the right place, but I find it nearly impossible to listen to. Yesterday I gave Be More Chill a spin to see if it may be worth a punt when I'm in New York next spring and went "Hell, no!" after two songs. Gosh you've got me thinking about the Dominion. Stalls are indeed very wide and rarely sell out so removing seats for a fab stalls track wouldn't lose much income from unsold seats. Hmmmm and could it pretty please have a bridge and rise to the circle? (Or am I just living in the past lol) I don't see why not, considering how much of the Dominion they turned upside down for Bat now. And once Bat closes, it'll take some effort to reconfigure the theatre anyway, so why not take it one step further for Starlight? How about keeping Falco's pool and let a "train" derail into it during a race? Like tHe CATS German tour in 2012ish - it was a great venue - only problem sometimes you heard some external noise - but as long as it wasn't in the quiet bits it was very good. Saw this in a German Winter and it was also nicely heated! Haha, that was exactly what I was thinking of when I mentioned the tent! |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 12:52:23 GMT
If the EU were to blame, how do they get away with it in Bochum? Because Bochum predates the law. My law knowledge is limited so forgive me for this, but is that how law works? Say a legal age for driving is 17 and a law comes into place to make it 20. Do the 17, 18 and 19 year old get to drive anyway because their age and right to drive predates the updated law? Also in regards to theatre, what law specifically prevents producers from installing race tracks for rollerskaters in auditoriums now? (I realise this sounds fairly contentious, but it's meant with the greatest of respect, out of curiosity!) |
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Post by TallPaul on Sept 19, 2018 13:22:51 GMT
^ I can't answer the second part of your question, but the first part is reasonably easy to answer. They are what is kown as grandfather or acquired rights.
There are some exceptions (often involving complex tax avoidance schemes) but new laws don't usually apply retrospectively.
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Post by Seriously on Sept 19, 2018 13:56:27 GMT
Britain has always had very strict Health and Safety Regulations.... and how you treat listed buildings has also been tightened up over the years. A production in another country that opened 30 years ago in a specially designed theatre is held to a different standard.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 14:04:40 GMT
As long as they keep the bit where Mica Paris scrabbles along the back of the stage looking for a paracetamol I will approve them bringing this show back.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 14:59:04 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 15:17:47 GMT
As long as they keep the bit where Mica Paris scrabbles along the back of the stage looking for a paracetamol I will approve them bringing this show back. Certainly, that was an iconic moment. |
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1,995 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Sept 19, 2018 21:34:17 GMT
I love that description I think Starlight Express might well work still as a singular spectacle on roller skates, but it's hard to tell. Cats used to be a show that enchanted the masses and now it's being met with ridicule by many younger musical lovers (while I, as an oldie, fail to see what the fuss about many new shows is about). I don't think it would be worth completely redesigning a West End theatre the way they did with the Apollo Victoria in those days (even if a race track would get rid of those pesky hard-to-sell side stalls seats at the Dominion). They should consider a tour in a tent-like venue built for the purpose, which they could even take outside the UK later. Apart from Bochum Starlight Express has never been seen in continental Europe. Haha - that's sort of how I see them. I find the music in these shows so mediocre, but so many people (vast majority younger than me at 41) are clearly connecting with them. One thing in Starlight's favour is that think will still be a family show - kids love the spectacle and the skates. Gosh you've got me thinking about the Dominion. Stalls are indeed very wide and rarely sell out so removing seats for a fab stalls track wouldn't lose much income from unsold seats. Hmmmm and could it pretty please have a bridge and rise to the circle? (Or am I just living in the past lol) I love the term too - sums them up perfectly. I also call them "Post Rent generation" musicals. As they CLEARY use Rent as their reference point. Most leave me cold. |
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Post by Deleted on Sept 19, 2018 21:43:02 GMT
As long as they keep the bit where Mica Paris scrabbles along the back of the stage looking for a paracetamol I will approve them bringing this show back. Still the best moment if theatre this past year. An iconic moment. |
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Post by ceebee on Sept 20, 2018 7:22:52 GMT
Nurofen Express, answer me yes, are you there? Yes or no... Nurofen Express, please do your best, I want this ache to go.
(Momma you're blind, look just behind - the set, upstage right. Starlight Express is doing it's best to pull you through tonight.) |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 11:55:20 GMT
35 years yesterday Starlight was unveiled at The Apollo Victoria. Literally my favourite musical on earth (by quite a long way). No mention of said milestone by RUG on social media, not that that's that unusual. Pleased that the German site did acknowledge it though :-)
Anyway, did get me wondering, is a new London production still on the cards? It's all gone very quiet, and it's now almost a year since the new German version was launched. Have to confess I am getting increasingly doubtful. In which case I hope there could be a new tour soon.
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Post by jgblunners on Mar 28, 2019 11:57:49 GMT
In which case I hope there could be a new tour soon. Wasn't the latest rumour about a pop-up tent style thing, which could play in London then tour? |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 12:00:48 GMT
In which case I hope there could be a new tour soon. Wasn't the latest rumour about a pop-up tent style thing, which could play in London then tour? I think that was very much fan fantasy rather than something that was ever on the cards! |
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Post by distantcousin on Mar 28, 2019 13:25:37 GMT
35 years yesterday Starlight was unveiled at The Apollo Victoria. Literally my favourite musical on earth (by quite a long way). No mention of said milestone by RUG on social media, not that that's that unusual. Pleased that the German site did acknowledge it though :-) Anyway, did get me wondering, is a new London production still on the cards? It's all gone very quiet, and it's now almost a year since the new German version was launched. Have to confess I am getting increasingly doubtful. In which case I hope there could be a new tour soon. Frances Ruffelle posted a couple of pictures (now and then) of her and Ray Shell on her facebook today... |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 18:08:31 GMT
As long as they keep the bit where Mica Paris scrabbles along the back of the stage looking for a paracetamol I will approve them bringing this show back. I know I'm coming to this late, but can someone explain this to me (before I consign it to the '4th cover midwife' part of my brain.) I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2019 18:19:12 GMT
As long as they keep the bit where Mica Paris scrabbles along the back of the stage looking for a paracetamol I will approve them bringing this show back. I know I'm coming to this late, but can someone explain this to me (before I consign it to the '4th cover midwife' part of my brain.) I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. So in The Other Palace workshop version the actors sat on stage at the side and back during the parts when they were not in the scene (so entire cast visible all way through). They had scripts, water bottles, mascot cuddly toys with them etc etc. Mica Paris was (apparently) battling through a cough/cold virus during the run (have to say I thought it was just the way she sang). Anyway, during one show she was scrambling around at the back of the stage apparently looking for something and also looking through her bag. It may or may not have been paracetamol she was looking for but given her virus it's an amusing (ish) story. I can confirm it was an amusing image! If not slightly distracting. |
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1,741 posts
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Post by FrontroverPaul on Mar 31, 2019 18:57:29 GMT
There is an amateur staging of Starlight Express at Yeovil's Octagon Theatre in May. The website proclaims this will be "the last UK amateur group to perform this version of the show".
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Post by gmoneyoutlaw on Mar 31, 2019 19:25:32 GMT
Paul26 what does that mean? There is a new version of Starlight in Germany that opened a year ago. I saw it in December. Is that the new version you refer to. Poppa is now Mamma and there's some song changes.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2019 19:35:00 GMT
Assume it means the original - there isn't a full script available for the new version in English yet!
Does imply (I hope) that that will be coming though :-)
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