Reader Reviews
Starlight Express (Bournemouth International Centre (BIC), Bournemouth)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | At Southend Cliffs Pavilion. Lloyd Webber is still tinkering and adding songs to Starlight Express but it now looks and sounds like a dated 80s timewarp and this latest version is over-choreographed by Arlene Phillips. The plot is wafer thin and any attempts at characterisation are lost amidst all the whizzing about, sub-standard 3D film inserts and a light show which literally dazzles the audience. Richard Stilgoe is a writer of genuine wit but too many of his lyrics are lost in a heavily amplified sound system and I wonder how many people now remember DIVORCE, the inspiration for UNCOUPLED. The gospellish version of the title song is still a rousing highlight and the inevitable megamix ensures that the show ends with an exciting climax, especially for first-timers, but otherwise this is a show that should be consigned to the ALW archives. - David Baxter | 05 Sep 12 |
| We have now seen all three versions of this show and this was absolutely the best! London was great but didn't follow the plot at all, Mayflower was good but I totally got the story this time around thanks to the intimacy of the venue and the great acting from the cast. Rusty had the best voice of all we have seen and the understudy 'Poppa' was great. We found Electra a bit disappointing but he sounded a bit like his voice was going so we gave him the benefit of the doubt! Altogether the whole family loved it and would have come back the next day to see it all over again if we could! Congratulations and thank you to the whole team. - Jacky Dale | 13 Aug 12 |
| Great show - we all enjoyed this as much as Lion King in London a few weeks ago. It didn't feel dated at all and we thought the 3D effects bought an extra dimension to the show. - Haley Triggs | 13 Aug 12 |
| WOW what a fantastic show well done to all involved!!!! not a huge stage tho put it this way 2nd half better than the 1st but still very good. standing avation, dancing , came away wanting to see again, children loved it at the matinee today. go you will love it!!!!! - steve | 12 Aug 12 |
| I've never seen the London version but it came with high ratings. Left at half-time. Probably best suited to dedicated train addicts who enjoy a limited story narrated by a child dictatator.The whole thing looked very dated. Actors sang and rollerskated well, they did their job. - Fi Jones | 11 Aug 12 |
| To be honest, not what you would expect Starlight Express to be, particularly at a £40 ticket fee. In essence, this "version" was just a smallish stage with a collection of singers who can hold a note, and also skate. Couple that to a LOT of lights and lighting effects - and there is the show. The race sequences were also pre-recorded as a film. This was mean't to be in 3D -I would call it 2.5D, again it was not used to its full potential with only a cuckoo clock and a rat being the main "3D" effects. Plus they have a lot of space at the Bournemouth venue and I was expecting plenty of skating around this large auditorium - again, none of this. It just didn't work for me, and nowhere near anything like the original London show. I wouldn't bother. - Julian Fletcher | 05 Aug 12 |
| lively, bright, funny, romantic. a great show that doesnt slow down from start to finsh. great cast, costumes a must see - Lorraine Hart | 02 Aug 12 |
