The new UK Tour of Starlight Express has re-branded Ashley the Smoking Car, as Duvet the Sleeper. Let’s have a look at the show’s history of sleepers… Obviously, my name-sake, Belle the Sleeping Car was a principal character, sang solo, raced with Rusty in Heat 2, sang and danced with the other coaches in Girls’ Rolling Stock. Belle’s look in the Broadway production was distinct and different to London, as all the costumes were re-designed. Broadway Belle also had a much reduced role in the show, not racing, only singing her solo and then in Light at the End of the Tunnel.
But, in the original London production, Greaseball came in and sang Pumping Iron after Freight, before AC/DC - before we met the components. So, in order to bump up the number of girls onstage, the actresses playing Volta and Joule also played the 2nd and 3rd class sleepers. Photos of these girls are really rare, since they only appeared in Pumping Iron, then quickly became the components.
And this is my 100th post. This seems… appropriate!
