West Potomac's 'Starlight Express': 'Whole Lotta Locomotion'

PHOTO: West Potomac High School student and actor John McFarlane; photo by Laura Marshall; photo courtesy of Cappies

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By MORGAN PERIGARD (Westfield High School)

"Starlight Express, you must confess, are you real, yes or no?" sings Rusty as he looks up into the sky with hope and promise. Though Rusty was doubtful, the legend was definitely real in West Potomac High School's uproarious and spirited production of Starlight Express.

Starlight Express, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Richard Stilgoe, opened on the West End in 1984, running for 7,406 performances. It also had a Broadway run, which ran for only 761 performances. The roller-skating rock musical is beloved in many countries, including Germany, where it has been running continuously since 1988. The plot follows a boy who imagines the lives of his toy trains as they compete to be the "fastest engine in the world." Rusty, a young and inexperienced train, does not seem to have a chance to win the race, until he is motivated by the great Starlight Express. Thus, Rusty sets off to win the race, as well as the heart of Pearl, the "first-class" carriage.

David Jarzen led the action as the underdog steam train, Rusty. Jarzen's stunning vocals and adorable nature perfectly led the audience in this The Little Engine that Could story. His commitment to his character was evident, consistently using his own physicality to represent the turning wheels of the train. Emily Carbone portrayed Pearl with a delightful sweetness. Carbone was a beautiful dancer and was never hindered by her roller skates, but let them make her performance even more pleasant to watch. Jarzen and Carbone had an adorable dynamic, specifically in their duet, "I Do."

A myriad of enjoyable supporting characters rounded out the show. The Carriages were energetic and spritely, especially in the song "Locomotion." Frankie Mananzan, as Dinah the Dining Car, was a stand out with her beautiful singing and dancing. Her song "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D." was wonderfully endearing and a joy to watch. Jonathan Barger was hilarious as the fast and confident train Greaseball and Julian Worth played Poppa adorably, especially in his moments of fatherly love with Jarzen.

By far the standout aspects of the production were the seamless technical features. Though there were some issues with sound, the lighting design was absolutely pristine and perfectly timed with the music. The use of 39 intelligent lights and a disco ball provided a magnificent techno setting for the rock musical. The costume design was also incredible, with every piece intricately detailed and customized for each train. The design even included colorful and lively helmets that each train wore. Moreover, the makeup design was exquisite for every single character. Each train had their own makeup that showed the audience exactly who they were.

Roller skating is no easy feat, especially when coupled with a zany rock musical. Nevertheless, West Potomac High School's exuberant production of Starlight Express truly had a whole lotta locomotion.