“An Absolutely First Class Show“
“Starlight Express” – Ryedale Youth Theatre
The Milton Rooms, Malton, April 16-19th 2014
Settle into your seats for the ride of a lifetime; “Starlight Express” has rolled into Malton’s Milton Rooms – literally rolled in on roller skates – for Ryedale Youth Theatre’s production of this West End hit. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and Alastair Lloyd Webber this colourful and vibrant adaptation had every hallmark of a truly professional production and what a production – from the vivacious opening to the final roof-raising choruses this cast gave their audience an unforgettable first class ride.
This show was all action; colourful costumes (and amazing make-up), seamless gliding from the cast as they brought the trains to life – all marshalled from the bedroom of Control (Ben Greenhough). On they came, Rusty the steam engine (Ollie Fearn), Greaseball the diesel (Dom Weatherill) and Electra (Lewis Danby) the main contenders for the World Championship Race. You can’t have a train without carriages – and such beautiful carriages – Pearl the first class car (Ria Williams), Dinah the dining car (Hannah Richardson), Buffy the buffet car (Harrietanne Coughlin) and Duvay the sleeping car (Lianna Hart). There were international trains, freight trains, track inspectors, trains of every colour and size filling the stage and auditorium with their wonderful movement and song. The choreography (by director Angela Kirkham and Ali Kirkham) was nothing short of miraculous, especially considering the confined space in the Milton Rooms in which the cast had to work.
Greaseball bore a remarkable resemblance to Elvis, and treated us all to some hip-swivelling action whilst he was “Pumping Iron”. Rusty had a crisis of confidence and was inspired to race after a very moving duet with Poppa (Leo Rowell), who possesses an extremely deep and most powerful voice. Who knew steam engines could moonwalk? Well, Rusty can. Every musical number was loud and clear with strong singing from the soloists and fantastic harmonising from the ensemble cast. Musical Director Chris Hocking led his musicians from their on-stage ‘music engine shed’, where Choral Director Martin Dixon was also able to lead the cast in the singing. The slick back stage organisation – the wonderful set, intricate costumes, lighting and sound – gave the whole show a thoroughly “West End” feel. It’s hard to believe the majority of the cast had never skated before rehearsals began in January, you certainly wouldn’t know it from the high standard of skating they achieved.
So in the end good triumphed over evil, steam over diesel and electricity, and Rusty won his Pearl. The cast sang “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel – at the end of the tunnel there’s a light, Starlight”; and indeed the starlight was pouring from the stage at the end of the show, coming from the whole cast of stars. Once again the incredibly highly talented members of Ryedale Youth Theatre have treated us to a wonderful evening of entertainment – West End standard theatre in Ryedale, we’re so lucky to have them.
Ann-Marie Gatford