Post by Minxie on Jun 7, 2009 22:51:08 GMT
This summary is taken from the wonderful Dyanarosejill's website The Midnight Train Crossing. For any more information on the show, please click the link and have a read!
Starlight has gone through many different changes throughout its long history, so giving just a straight plot summary is difficult to do, but I'm going to give it a try.
There are some more detailed descriptions about several of the productions in particular elsewhere on my site.
The show begins with a little boy - who is only a voice and is only known as Control - playing with his trainset as he announces that tonight there is going to be a train race. In most productions his mother comes in and tells him to go to sleep. He says good night to her, but as soon as she's gone, he resumes playing. Control drifts off to sleep at some point during the overture and dreams the whole show - that his toy trains come to life.
Sometimes the show begins with the Entry of the National Engines , where the engines from around the world enter the stage, and sometimes it goes straight into the first song, Rolling Stock , which introduces Greaseball the diesel engine and his entourage. As they skate around the stage, showing off, Greaseball announces that he's going to win the race tonight.
After Rolling Stock, a new engine enters the stage - our hero Rusty the steam engine. He's picked on by the diesels before, or after, or during his song: either Call Me Rusty or Engine of Love , depending on the production. Rusty also wants to win the race and prove that steam is not as weak as the diesels think that it is.
Rusty, as the engine, pulls the four main female characters out onto the stage, the coaches, Pearl the observation car, Dinah the dining car, Buffy the buffet car and Ashley the smoking car. They are all amazed that Rusty wants to race, none of them seem to have much confidence in him. In their song, either A Lotta Locomotion or A Whole Lotta Locomotion, they sing about how they need to find their perfect engines.
In a few of the productions, Pearl gets a solo song here: He'll Whistle At Me where she sings about how her dream engine will whistle at her... implying that her dream engine is a steamer.
Originally, the coaches' song was immediately followed by the arrival of Greaseball to do his second song, but that was only in the original London production. In all of the others, the girls' song is followed by the return of Rusty with the Freight Train: the boxcars, Rocky One, Rocky Two, Rocky Three, a brick truck named Flat Top, a big hopper named Dustin and occasionally, a red caboose.
The coaches and the freight cars don't get along well at all. During the next song, Freight they argue about what's better: carrying people or carrying cargo. During the middle of this song, the freight cars introduce themselves.
If the Entry of the Nationals is not at the beginning of the show, it takes place after Freight. As the trains all gather for the upcoming race, they are interrupted by the arrival of the newest engine on the tracks: an electric engine cleverly named Electra. He arrives with his set of five components, Krupp, his armaments truck, Wrench, his repair truck, Purse, his money truck, Volta his freezer truck and Joule his dynamite truck. Electra goes into his song, AC/DC where he uses his magnetic power to attract all of the other cars.
In most productions, Greaseball does not like Electra's encroachment on his territory, and he roars in, attracting the attention of all of the girls, including Wrench, Volta and Joule, for his song Pumping Iron
The next song after this is sometimes called Coda of Freight and sometimes called just Freight (Reprise) where all of the engines, Rusty included, declare that they are going to win the race, and the coaches and freight resume their argument about carrying people vs freight.
After this song comes time for the engines and their cars to pair up. In order to race, each engine much have a car partnered with him. Originally this was an elaborate sequence called Switching and Hitching where Control would announce the pairs, but that sort of faded out.
Rusty always asks Pearl to go with him. Originally, Pearl did not sing a ballad earlier in the show, and she responded with a similar song He Whistled At Me which is more 80s pop song. It's the same idea, that her dream train will whistle at her.
In other versions of the show instead of Pearl having a song, Rusty sings a song called Crazy in which he invites Pearl to come race with him. The coaches say that Rusty's crazy for trying this, and he agrees good-naturedly.
After this, Purse comes rolling in to spoil the mood. Electra's normal coach can't race and he wants to race with Pearl instead. In most productions (Except the original) Pearl gets another ballad here: Make Up My Heart where she tries to decide which engine to race with. She ends up going with Electra, leaving a heartbroken Rusty behind.
Next comes the first race, which always features Greaseball, and usually Electra. Greaseball and Dinah win the race, and if Electra is in the race, he and Pearl tie with Greaseball and Dinah. If Caboose (sometimes known as CB) is in the show, Dinah gets very upset by the outcome of the race and accuses Greaseball of cheating ( Wasn't Fair ). Greaseball doesn't like to hear about this from his coach and so he uncouples her, leaving her heartbroken. Caboose takes pity on Dinah and sings a duet with her: There's Me where he says that he will always be there for her.
If Caboose is not in the production, this entire scene is cut. Sometimes, even if caboose is in the production, this scene is cut.
Meanwhile, we meet the last engine of the show, Poppa, a retired old steam engine. He is off in the freight yard, entertaining himself and the freight cars with his song Poppa's Blues . Rusty rolls after the song, sulking because Pearl won't race with him, and if Pearl won't race with him, he doesn't want to race at all. Poppa tells Rusty to stop being silly, he can find another partner to race with and show them all that he can race - and win.
The following part only occurs in the Original London Version of the show: Poppa finds a partner for Rusty, an old sleeping car named Belle. She introduces herself with her song: Belle the Sleeping Car . She and Poppa encourage Rusty to race in the song Starlight Express Introduction where they tell him to draw on the power of the Starlight Express. Rusty reluctantly agrees to take her with him and goes off to race in the second heat. He races against Electra and Pearl (In the original production, Electra was not in the first race) and loses.
A very very depressed Rusty goes back to the freight yard and tells Poppa that he's giving up, there's no place for steam on the railroad today. Poppa does not like that attitude and so, when it is announced that there is a cancellation (The British Train has been scrapped), he takes Dustin and goes to enter the third race.
However, most other productions worked differently when the character of Belle was cut. Poppa encourages Rusty to race with one of the freight cars and sings Starlight Express Introduction . Rusty refuses to go and so, frustrated, Poppa takes Dustin and goes to enter the second race.
Poppa and Dustin win the race with another of the nationals placing second. (It varies from production to production). Poppa has won the race, but at a high price. He is badly injured (or broken if you prefer) and so he cannot race again. Once again, he tells Rusty to race, but Rusty refuses.
Greaseball and co come in to tease Rusty, and Electra comes in to flaunt the fact that he has Pearl. Between all of that Rusty decides that yes. He will race. And he will show them all who is the best. ( Laughing Stock )
As the stage clears, Rusty wonders if this was a good idea. He sings his pretty song, Starlight Express as he tries to find the power that Poppa told him to look for.
The second act usually opens with a song called The Rap although some productions did it differently, and had a song called Hymn to Victory There are several variations on the Rap, but it's pretty much always about getting ready and excited about the upcoming race.
During the course of the Rap, Greaseball and Dinah split up, if they haven't already. And Greaseball decides that he'd much rather race with Pearl, if for nothing else than to show up Electra. Pearl agrees to go with Greaseball instead of Electra.
A depressed Dinah vents to Ashley and Buffy (and if she's there, Belle) in her country-western style song: U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D. She spells it out because she can't bring herself to say the word.
In most of the productions, this song is followed by a song sung by Ashley, Buffy (and Belle) called Girls (Coaches)' Rolling Stock or just Rolling Stock Reprise where they encourage Dinah to not be so depressed, or at least to not let Greaseball see that she's so depressed, and everything will be alright in the end. But sometimes this song is cut from the show.
Right on time, Purse comes in, and in the same style as inviting Pearl, he says that Electra wants to race with Dinah now, so she agrees to go.
In the productions that have the red caboose, he enters the stage next. He tells Greaseball and Electra (separately) that he is going to race with Rusty, and he's going to make sure that Rusty loses. Everyone is rather surprised that the ever-helpful caboose is willing to do that, but in his song, Wide Smile, High Style the Red Caboose explains that he's actually not to be trusted. This song is also sometimes cut, even if caboose is in the production.
The next race is known as the Uphill Final, because... it's the final and it's uphill. Greaseball is paired with Pearl, Electra is paired with Dinah. Sometimes there is a national in the race, and if caboose is in the race, Rusty is paired with caboose. (Otherwise, Rusty goes with one of the other coaches). They start racing and the red caboose slows Rusty down, causing a train wreck, causing the race to be canceled. (Except for in the original, where Greaseball and Electra tie) If Caboose is not in the race, then Greaseball punches Rusty out.
After the race is canceled, they accuse Rusty of causing the wreck, which, according to Control, disqualifies him. Rusty protests against this, but they just tease him and shove him down some more. In some of the shows, Greaseball's gang beats him up. In other versions, he's just hurt from the race. Pearl feels bad for Rusty, but Greaseball drags her offstage.
As Rusty is sulking and usually trying not to cry, he meets up with the Rockies (As the boxcars are collectively known). They also tell him to stop feeling sorry for himself, and that there's nothing he can do. He's very unlucky, and he simply wasn't in the Right Place, (at the) Right Time . This is the Rockies' big number, and they demonstrate their acrobatic skills.
After the Rockies try and fail to cheer Rusty up, they leave. Rusty decides that they are right... everyone else has been right... he should just give up. He isn't good for anything...
As Rusty is sitting there sadly, suddenly, he hears a voice. It's the Starlight Express, telling him that Rusty needs to draw on the power within him. The true power of the Starlight Express is within no one else but Rusty himself. The song is called I Am The Starlight also sometimes known as Starlight Sequence .
After the song, Rusty is energized and ready to race again. Just as he's about to leave, he hears a soft cough. Dustin had been asleep nearby. The hopper shyly tells Rusty that he saw it all, and he believes in Rusty too. So the two head off together to race.
Meanwhile, Dinah is unhappy. She doesn't like racing with Electra, he's not her type. So, she sings a short song either called He Whistled At Me Reprise or Dinah's Disco (same song, different titles) and she uncouples Electra, going off on her own. If Caboose is in the production, Electra calls for him to help and race with him in the final race. If Caboose isn't in it, Electra goes with one of the remaining coaches.
Rusty and Dustin show up just in time for the race. They aren't meant to be in this race, but no one can stop them, so Control just lets them be. During the Downhill Final, Pearl starts to slow Greaseball down, because she is hurt, so Greaseball uncouples her and sends her flying off engineless. Rusty slows down to catch her and makes sure that she is alright before taking off to chase Greaseball and Electra, who are now quite a bit ahead of him.
Since one must race with a partner, Greaseball either takes out the national that's still in the race and steals his partner, or Greaseball and Electra swap Caboose back and forth.
Greaseball, Electra and caboose, if he's there, get tangled up in a mess near the finish line and Rusty shoots right past them to win the race. But Rusty doesn't have time to celebrate. He hurries off to find Pearl to make absolutely sure that she's alright.
In the original London show, Electra is very upset to lose, and he storms off in a huff in his second song, No Comeback . But in most other productions, Electra, Greaseball and Caboose (If he is there) come out all tangled up, wearing bits of each other's costumes where they sing the song One Rock'n'Roll Too Many where they lament what happened to them. They went too fast and got hurt.
At the announcement that Rusty must return or his lap of honor will be canceled, Poppa rolls in and asks what happened to Rusty and Pearl. Upon finding out, Poppa and the entire rest of the cast go off in search of Rusty and Pearl.
Pearl has been off by herself where she starts to sing the love song of the show, where she laments how foolish she was being, until Rusty comes in midway through the song and joins her in a duet. He forgives her for all the trouble she has caused and they end up together at last. Sometimes this song is called Only He or the variation Only You or a different song, Next Time You Fall In Love .
Poppa arrives with the rest of the cast to congratulate Rusty. Electra, Caboose and Greaseball, who are still in rather rough shape, collapse on the stage. Upon seeing Greaseball, Dinah rushes towards him, and Greaseball awkwardly apologizes to her: "I'm S.O.R.R.R.Y."
Poppa suggests that Greaseball and Electra can get repaired - and converted to steam. With that settled, and everyone paired off like they are meant to be, they go into the final song: Light At The End Of The Tunnel where they celebrate steam power.
In most productions now, there is one final song at the end, the Starlight Megamix which is basically a reprise of... most of the songs. It is when all of the characters get to take their bows, when their appropriate songs are sung.
There are some more detailed descriptions about several of the productions in particular elsewhere on my site.
The show begins with a little boy - who is only a voice and is only known as Control - playing with his trainset as he announces that tonight there is going to be a train race. In most productions his mother comes in and tells him to go to sleep. He says good night to her, but as soon as she's gone, he resumes playing. Control drifts off to sleep at some point during the overture and dreams the whole show - that his toy trains come to life.
Sometimes the show begins with the Entry of the National Engines , where the engines from around the world enter the stage, and sometimes it goes straight into the first song, Rolling Stock , which introduces Greaseball the diesel engine and his entourage. As they skate around the stage, showing off, Greaseball announces that he's going to win the race tonight.
After Rolling Stock, a new engine enters the stage - our hero Rusty the steam engine. He's picked on by the diesels before, or after, or during his song: either Call Me Rusty or Engine of Love , depending on the production. Rusty also wants to win the race and prove that steam is not as weak as the diesels think that it is.
Rusty, as the engine, pulls the four main female characters out onto the stage, the coaches, Pearl the observation car, Dinah the dining car, Buffy the buffet car and Ashley the smoking car. They are all amazed that Rusty wants to race, none of them seem to have much confidence in him. In their song, either A Lotta Locomotion or A Whole Lotta Locomotion, they sing about how they need to find their perfect engines.
In a few of the productions, Pearl gets a solo song here: He'll Whistle At Me where she sings about how her dream engine will whistle at her... implying that her dream engine is a steamer.
Originally, the coaches' song was immediately followed by the arrival of Greaseball to do his second song, but that was only in the original London production. In all of the others, the girls' song is followed by the return of Rusty with the Freight Train: the boxcars, Rocky One, Rocky Two, Rocky Three, a brick truck named Flat Top, a big hopper named Dustin and occasionally, a red caboose.
The coaches and the freight cars don't get along well at all. During the next song, Freight they argue about what's better: carrying people or carrying cargo. During the middle of this song, the freight cars introduce themselves.
If the Entry of the Nationals is not at the beginning of the show, it takes place after Freight. As the trains all gather for the upcoming race, they are interrupted by the arrival of the newest engine on the tracks: an electric engine cleverly named Electra. He arrives with his set of five components, Krupp, his armaments truck, Wrench, his repair truck, Purse, his money truck, Volta his freezer truck and Joule his dynamite truck. Electra goes into his song, AC/DC where he uses his magnetic power to attract all of the other cars.
In most productions, Greaseball does not like Electra's encroachment on his territory, and he roars in, attracting the attention of all of the girls, including Wrench, Volta and Joule, for his song Pumping Iron
The next song after this is sometimes called Coda of Freight and sometimes called just Freight (Reprise) where all of the engines, Rusty included, declare that they are going to win the race, and the coaches and freight resume their argument about carrying people vs freight.
After this song comes time for the engines and their cars to pair up. In order to race, each engine much have a car partnered with him. Originally this was an elaborate sequence called Switching and Hitching where Control would announce the pairs, but that sort of faded out.
Rusty always asks Pearl to go with him. Originally, Pearl did not sing a ballad earlier in the show, and she responded with a similar song He Whistled At Me which is more 80s pop song. It's the same idea, that her dream train will whistle at her.
In other versions of the show instead of Pearl having a song, Rusty sings a song called Crazy in which he invites Pearl to come race with him. The coaches say that Rusty's crazy for trying this, and he agrees good-naturedly.
After this, Purse comes rolling in to spoil the mood. Electra's normal coach can't race and he wants to race with Pearl instead. In most productions (Except the original) Pearl gets another ballad here: Make Up My Heart where she tries to decide which engine to race with. She ends up going with Electra, leaving a heartbroken Rusty behind.
Next comes the first race, which always features Greaseball, and usually Electra. Greaseball and Dinah win the race, and if Electra is in the race, he and Pearl tie with Greaseball and Dinah. If Caboose (sometimes known as CB) is in the show, Dinah gets very upset by the outcome of the race and accuses Greaseball of cheating ( Wasn't Fair ). Greaseball doesn't like to hear about this from his coach and so he uncouples her, leaving her heartbroken. Caboose takes pity on Dinah and sings a duet with her: There's Me where he says that he will always be there for her.
If Caboose is not in the production, this entire scene is cut. Sometimes, even if caboose is in the production, this scene is cut.
Meanwhile, we meet the last engine of the show, Poppa, a retired old steam engine. He is off in the freight yard, entertaining himself and the freight cars with his song Poppa's Blues . Rusty rolls after the song, sulking because Pearl won't race with him, and if Pearl won't race with him, he doesn't want to race at all. Poppa tells Rusty to stop being silly, he can find another partner to race with and show them all that he can race - and win.
The following part only occurs in the Original London Version of the show: Poppa finds a partner for Rusty, an old sleeping car named Belle. She introduces herself with her song: Belle the Sleeping Car . She and Poppa encourage Rusty to race in the song Starlight Express Introduction where they tell him to draw on the power of the Starlight Express. Rusty reluctantly agrees to take her with him and goes off to race in the second heat. He races against Electra and Pearl (In the original production, Electra was not in the first race) and loses.
A very very depressed Rusty goes back to the freight yard and tells Poppa that he's giving up, there's no place for steam on the railroad today. Poppa does not like that attitude and so, when it is announced that there is a cancellation (The British Train has been scrapped), he takes Dustin and goes to enter the third race.
However, most other productions worked differently when the character of Belle was cut. Poppa encourages Rusty to race with one of the freight cars and sings Starlight Express Introduction . Rusty refuses to go and so, frustrated, Poppa takes Dustin and goes to enter the second race.
Poppa and Dustin win the race with another of the nationals placing second. (It varies from production to production). Poppa has won the race, but at a high price. He is badly injured (or broken if you prefer) and so he cannot race again. Once again, he tells Rusty to race, but Rusty refuses.
Greaseball and co come in to tease Rusty, and Electra comes in to flaunt the fact that he has Pearl. Between all of that Rusty decides that yes. He will race. And he will show them all who is the best. ( Laughing Stock )
As the stage clears, Rusty wonders if this was a good idea. He sings his pretty song, Starlight Express as he tries to find the power that Poppa told him to look for.
The second act usually opens with a song called The Rap although some productions did it differently, and had a song called Hymn to Victory There are several variations on the Rap, but it's pretty much always about getting ready and excited about the upcoming race.
During the course of the Rap, Greaseball and Dinah split up, if they haven't already. And Greaseball decides that he'd much rather race with Pearl, if for nothing else than to show up Electra. Pearl agrees to go with Greaseball instead of Electra.
A depressed Dinah vents to Ashley and Buffy (and if she's there, Belle) in her country-western style song: U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D. She spells it out because she can't bring herself to say the word.
In most of the productions, this song is followed by a song sung by Ashley, Buffy (and Belle) called Girls (Coaches)' Rolling Stock or just Rolling Stock Reprise where they encourage Dinah to not be so depressed, or at least to not let Greaseball see that she's so depressed, and everything will be alright in the end. But sometimes this song is cut from the show.
Right on time, Purse comes in, and in the same style as inviting Pearl, he says that Electra wants to race with Dinah now, so she agrees to go.
In the productions that have the red caboose, he enters the stage next. He tells Greaseball and Electra (separately) that he is going to race with Rusty, and he's going to make sure that Rusty loses. Everyone is rather surprised that the ever-helpful caboose is willing to do that, but in his song, Wide Smile, High Style the Red Caboose explains that he's actually not to be trusted. This song is also sometimes cut, even if caboose is in the production.
The next race is known as the Uphill Final, because... it's the final and it's uphill. Greaseball is paired with Pearl, Electra is paired with Dinah. Sometimes there is a national in the race, and if caboose is in the race, Rusty is paired with caboose. (Otherwise, Rusty goes with one of the other coaches). They start racing and the red caboose slows Rusty down, causing a train wreck, causing the race to be canceled. (Except for in the original, where Greaseball and Electra tie) If Caboose is not in the race, then Greaseball punches Rusty out.
After the race is canceled, they accuse Rusty of causing the wreck, which, according to Control, disqualifies him. Rusty protests against this, but they just tease him and shove him down some more. In some of the shows, Greaseball's gang beats him up. In other versions, he's just hurt from the race. Pearl feels bad for Rusty, but Greaseball drags her offstage.
As Rusty is sulking and usually trying not to cry, he meets up with the Rockies (As the boxcars are collectively known). They also tell him to stop feeling sorry for himself, and that there's nothing he can do. He's very unlucky, and he simply wasn't in the Right Place, (at the) Right Time . This is the Rockies' big number, and they demonstrate their acrobatic skills.
After the Rockies try and fail to cheer Rusty up, they leave. Rusty decides that they are right... everyone else has been right... he should just give up. He isn't good for anything...
As Rusty is sitting there sadly, suddenly, he hears a voice. It's the Starlight Express, telling him that Rusty needs to draw on the power within him. The true power of the Starlight Express is within no one else but Rusty himself. The song is called I Am The Starlight also sometimes known as Starlight Sequence .
After the song, Rusty is energized and ready to race again. Just as he's about to leave, he hears a soft cough. Dustin had been asleep nearby. The hopper shyly tells Rusty that he saw it all, and he believes in Rusty too. So the two head off together to race.
Meanwhile, Dinah is unhappy. She doesn't like racing with Electra, he's not her type. So, she sings a short song either called He Whistled At Me Reprise or Dinah's Disco (same song, different titles) and she uncouples Electra, going off on her own. If Caboose is in the production, Electra calls for him to help and race with him in the final race. If Caboose isn't in it, Electra goes with one of the remaining coaches.
Rusty and Dustin show up just in time for the race. They aren't meant to be in this race, but no one can stop them, so Control just lets them be. During the Downhill Final, Pearl starts to slow Greaseball down, because she is hurt, so Greaseball uncouples her and sends her flying off engineless. Rusty slows down to catch her and makes sure that she is alright before taking off to chase Greaseball and Electra, who are now quite a bit ahead of him.
Since one must race with a partner, Greaseball either takes out the national that's still in the race and steals his partner, or Greaseball and Electra swap Caboose back and forth.
Greaseball, Electra and caboose, if he's there, get tangled up in a mess near the finish line and Rusty shoots right past them to win the race. But Rusty doesn't have time to celebrate. He hurries off to find Pearl to make absolutely sure that she's alright.
In the original London show, Electra is very upset to lose, and he storms off in a huff in his second song, No Comeback . But in most other productions, Electra, Greaseball and Caboose (If he is there) come out all tangled up, wearing bits of each other's costumes where they sing the song One Rock'n'Roll Too Many where they lament what happened to them. They went too fast and got hurt.
At the announcement that Rusty must return or his lap of honor will be canceled, Poppa rolls in and asks what happened to Rusty and Pearl. Upon finding out, Poppa and the entire rest of the cast go off in search of Rusty and Pearl.
Pearl has been off by herself where she starts to sing the love song of the show, where she laments how foolish she was being, until Rusty comes in midway through the song and joins her in a duet. He forgives her for all the trouble she has caused and they end up together at last. Sometimes this song is called Only He or the variation Only You or a different song, Next Time You Fall In Love .
Poppa arrives with the rest of the cast to congratulate Rusty. Electra, Caboose and Greaseball, who are still in rather rough shape, collapse on the stage. Upon seeing Greaseball, Dinah rushes towards him, and Greaseball awkwardly apologizes to her: "I'm S.O.R.R.R.Y."
Poppa suggests that Greaseball and Electra can get repaired - and converted to steam. With that settled, and everyone paired off like they are meant to be, they go into the final song: Light At The End Of The Tunnel where they celebrate steam power.
In most productions now, there is one final song at the end, the Starlight Megamix which is basically a reprise of... most of the songs. It is when all of the characters get to take their bows, when their appropriate songs are sung.