Reader Reviews
Starlight Express (New Wimbledon Theatre, Outer London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | I had seen the original starlight express in the 90's and remembered how enjoyable it was, so thought I would go back to see the new version. I have to say I did not enjoy the production at all, the spectacular show that I had seen years ago has now been turned into a cheesy musical! The majority of the original songs have been taken out and the songs that are in it are repeated throughout the performance. It was such a disappointment as I had spent £80 on tickets and at the end felt it was a waste of money. If you have seen the original and loved it please do not go and see the new version as it will be such a let down! - Kirby | 10 Jul 12 |
| I thoroughly enjoyed this production. I saw the show twice in 1984, loved it then loved it now. Great energy from the cast,super skating and singing - EJAG | 17 May 12 |
| What a disapiontment...It really dosent work as a show anymore...Bored thoughout & embrassing to watch...Wish I just got my Rollerblades out & gone skating as far away from this production as I could...A waste of Money...AVOID - James | 17 May 12 |
| I completely agree with this review, saw Starlight at Wimbledon this evening. I must confess I am a bit of a purist, having seen the orignal show in the 80's at the Apollo Victoria with the wrap around race track. Although broadly true to the original show, i'm not sure the new updates add anything to the production. Such a shame that "Next time you fall in love" has been removed, the new "I do" is sweet but does not have the same impact. The clap-clap-palm moment was truely cringeworthy and wholly inappropriatly placed in the show. The reworking of the sound with added synth/drums/dance beats if anything makes the score sound outdated. Having said all that it's a very entertaining show (particularly if you've not seen the original,) the cast were very good, and the megamix was fantastic. - Laura Wright | 16 May 12 |
| LOVED IT especially Starlight Sequence my favourite song - Jill | 16 May 12 |
| What an amazing show! I booked with 5 other friends and family for this outing. I was really impressed with the whole evening. Having not seen this show before, a family member had said how she had really enjoyed it first time round. She thought last nights show was even better with the 3D effect. I was amazed at all the lighting and the costumes were fantastic. It’s incredible how the cast skate, act and dance on the roller skates. They are all so talented. It was really good and interesting meeting some of the cast afterwards. I’m booking to see it again at Oxford in December with some other friends! Cannot wait!!! - kim | 16 May 12 |
| I thoroughly enjoyed the show, minimised though it had to be. I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer about But I Do - it totally killed the energy of the show. It was interminably dull, with the tedium only broken by the surreal clap-clap-punch which may not have been intended as comedy relief, but was. I'm not a fan of Next Time You Fall In Love, the lyrics clearly belonging to a different story to the one in Starlight Express, but it is at least a pleasant song to listen to and doesn't drag on for half an hour. Also, diesel doesn't beat electricity... steam leaves them both in a wrecked pile-up. That's the main point of the plot, that the underdog beats the two main rivals. The love story is incidental. - Laura Parkin | 16 May 12 |
| I was there last night, probably in front of this reviewer - someone was typing very industriously right through the show. Crass idiot! I've seen Starlight in London, on the previous UK tour, in Bochum, and now this tour. No, the new song is AWFUL compared to 'Next Time you Fall In Love', or even 'You Alone', which it has replaced. And it's during 'But I Do' that the gruesomely inappropriate We Will Rock You clap is attempted. We howled with laughter! Apart from that, I'd broadly agree with this reviewer. Is he aware, though, that a full-stage, fully skated and costumed version of the original Starlight Express has been running to full houses for over 21 years, just a couple of hours' journey east of us, in Bochum, Germany? That's where most of the cast got their previous Starlight experience! And it's still going, still hugely popular. The megamix is a traditional part of the show, not new. However, this is a nice, tight, sparkly little mini-Starlight, with real potential to develop into a full show should a large venue - say an obsolete Olympic hall of some kind - become available after August. - Nyree Wadman | 15 May 12 |
