From the black and white opening scene I knew it was going to be visually splendid and from the atmosphere created knew I was in for something dramatic. Not surprisingly Phantom made it to the big screen in this adaptation but Starlight did not.Having not seen the musical before, and only being familiar with some of the well know songs I had no preconceptions, but was eager to see the film being a lover of all things musical. Andrew Lloyd Webber admits that although he does not regret doing the show he should have marketed it as a "Disney kiddie ride sort of a thing" a special effects extravaganza just for kids, to be performed at amusement parks exclusively, not a serious big budget Broadway musical for the masses where it would be compared to much more critically acclaimed Webber shows like Jesus Christ Superstar Evita Joseph and Phantom. But where Phantom got positive reviews and is mostly considered a classic Starlight was slammed by the critics some who say though it was a hit it is one of the worst Broadway and London theater productions of all time focusing as it does on people dressed up like trains and roller skating and featuring a sporting event like race replete with monitors. This theatrical production premiered in London in 1985-6, the same year Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber rolled out Starlight Express, an adaptation of the Thomas the Tank Engine novels (with all character and place names changed when the rights deal fell through).
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