Pearl the Observation Car
Encyclopedia
Starlight Express
Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber , Richard Stilgoe and Arlene Phillips , with later revisions by Don Black and David Yazbek . The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates...
. She is a railway observation car
Observation car
An observation car/carriage/coach is a type of railroad passenger car, generally operated in a passenger train as the last carriage, with windows on the rear of the car for passengers' viewing pleasure...
riage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car". Rusty
Rusty the Steam Engine
Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine, relegated to the sidings, who dreams of winning the Championship Engine of the World races. He is roundly mocked for this ambition, as steam is old fashioned, and...
is madly in love with her but when he asks her to race with him, she rejects him, explaining her reason that she has "a train I dream about, an engine moved by steam" who is the engine for her. She first races with Electra
Electra the Electric Train
Electra the Electric Engine is a fictional character from the rock musical Starlight Express.Electra is the newest train to enter the yard and, therefore, Control's newest toy. He comes with his own line of components that are loyal to him. He's rich, self-centered and sexy. His eyes are set on...
and then, with Greaseball
Greaseball the Diesel
Greaseball is a character in the rock musical Starlight Express. He is the alpha male of the train yard. He's self confident, suave and a heartbreaker. All the ladies loves him but Dinah is his main squeeze. He and his gang put Rusty down, breaking his spirits. He trips Rusty during one of the...
after he dumps Dinah. During the final race, she is too interested in watching Rusty and isn't paying attention to the race itself. Greaseball uncouples her mid race, causing her to nearly crash. At the last moment, she is saved by Rusty. While the race continues, she slips away to think, and finally realizes that Rusty has been the one for her all along.
Perla is the name that was given to Pearl in the 1997 Mexican production, Expreso Astral, that played at the Teatro Polanco in Mexico City. Many of the characters were given new, more Spanish names in this production. Perla's biggest songs were Me Chiflará (He'll Whistle at Me), No Resiste Mi Corazón (Make Up My Heart, literally translates as: "My Heart Does not resist " ) and Si Buscas Otro Amor (Next Time You Fall in Love, literally translates as "If You look for Another Love").
Pearl's character
Pearl is young and innocent, often played by teenagers (notably 16 year old Maria Jane HydeMaria Jane Hyde
Maria Jane Hyde is an English singer and musical actress.-Early life:Hyde was born 1969 in The Memorial Hospital in Shooters Hill, London, England. Her father, Edward Hyde, is a successful company founder , her mother is Maureen Hyde, née Fennelly. Hyde grew up with her two older brothers in...
, but has a dramatic change in character during the show. She lets down two of her closest friends—Rusty, when she breaks her promise to race with him, and later Dinah, when she steals Greaseball. In the mocking "Laughing stock", she stands by and does nothing as Greaseball and Electra (and their respective entourages) taunt Rusty.
She starts to see the error of her ways when Greaseball uncouples her during the final, leaving her to be rescued by Rusty. She then realises who her real friends are.
Inspiration
The character of Pearl is possibly based on Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
in Xanadu
Xanadu (film)
Xanadu is a 1980 romantic musical fantasy film written by Marc Reid Rubel and directed by Robert Greenwald. The title is a reference to the poem "Kubla Khan, or, A Vision in a Dream: A Fragment" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which is quoted in the film. Xanadu is the name of the Chinese province...
. This is most obvious in the earlier productions, but the UK tour portrayed her as a 21st century girl-group singer . Her name, Pearl, is possibly due to the fact she is a Pullman Car. The Pullman company named each of their coaches; after precious stones, as well as mythological characters, flowers and popular names of the time.
Name and classification
Over the 24 years that Pearl has existed, many different clues to her classification have appeared in the show and on her costume.From Broadway onwards the word 'observation' has appeared on her costume across the bust, clearly marking her as an observation coach along with the fact that Control refers to her as such when introducing the competitors in the races.
Although Pullman
Pullman Company
The Pullman Palace Car Company, founded by George Pullman, manufactured railroad cars in the mid-to-late 19th century through the early decades of the 20th century, during the boom of railroads in the United States. Pullman developed the sleeping car which carried his name into the 1980s...
never used the monogramme 'PM' to mark their coaches, and 'Pullman' is one word, the monogramme that appears on Pearl's skirt in the Broadway design could be intended to stand for the company, marking her as a Pullman car
Pullman (car or coach)
In the United States, Pullman was used to refer to railroad sleeping cars which were built and operated on most U.S. railroads by the Pullman Company from 1867 to December 31, 1968....
. Perhaps the use of the Pullman shield was deemed too obscure a reference for the audience to understand, and a 'P' would only appear to stand for 'Pearl', resulting in this unusual detail.
From 2003 onwards in the Bochum production in Germany, Pearl's verse in Ne Lok Mit Lokomotion (A Lotta Locomotion) has concluded 'als erste klasse weltbekannt!', meaning 'Everyone knows I'm First Class!'. Previously it had been a direct translation of 'ain't gonna smoke, ain't gonna drink -' 'What are you gonna do?' '- whaddya think?', as in all English language productions. Control introduces her pre-race as 'Pearl, die Erste Klasse Wagen'.
In the same year in the US, Pearl's new costume had the 'PRR' symbol of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
on her belt, as the front panel of her skirt was no longer there. This symbol also appears on Caboose's shoulder box, possibly one of his hunting trophies.
Choreography
Pearl, like ElectraElectra the Electric Train
Electra the Electric Engine is a fictional character from the rock musical Starlight Express.Electra is the newest train to enter the yard and, therefore, Control's newest toy. He comes with his own line of components that are loyal to him. He's rich, self-centered and sexy. His eyes are set on...
, is one of the show's leading dance roles. Half her character is carried in her individual style of moving. Her numbers, such as 'Make Up My Heart' and 'He'll Whistle At Me' are accompanied by very balletic, yet contemporary routines. She has lots of 'signature moves' that are personal to her. One of the most common moves is the imitation of Rusty's
Rusty the Steam Engine
Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine, relegated to the sidings, who dreams of winning the Championship Engine of the World races. He is roundly mocked for this ambition, as steam is old fashioned, and...
arm movement, (although she does not have her hands in fists as he does). This is most likely some representation of her fascination with steam locomotives. Others, include a sweeping hand movement in 'He'll Whistle At Me', some kind of imitation of an Electra move in verse two of 'Make Up My Heart', and sweeping movement into her well known 'pose' (see picture of Gemma Atkins further down this page). She even has her own way of pirouetting - clutching her hands to her heart and stopping with a balance on the stopper of her skate.
Major Songs
Original London- "Call me Rusty" - Quintet with Rusty, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy
- "A Lotta Locomotion" - Quartet with Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley
- "Freight" - With the coaches and freight trucks
- "He Whistled at me" - Solo
- "Only He" - Solo.
- "Only YouOnly You (Pearl and Rusty)"Only You" is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl.- Overview :...
" - Duet with Rusty
Revised London
- "A Lotta Locomotion" - Quartet with Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley
- "Freight" - Along with the coaches and the freight trucks
- "He'll Whistle at me" - Solo
- "Crazy" - Quintet with Rusty, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy
- "Make Up My HeartMake Up My HeartMake Up My Heart is the power ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Pearl.During the song, she is deciding between the two she has fallen in love with...
" - Solo - "Next time you fall in love" - Duet with Rusty
Bochum
- "Liebesexpress" - Quintet with Rusty, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy(Translates as: Love train. English equivalent: Engine of Love) (Later shortened)
- "Ne Lok mit Locomotion" - Quartet with Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley (Translates as: "A Locomotive with locomotion", English Equivalent: A Lotta Locomotion)
- "Crazy" - Quintet with Rusty, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy(added to the show in 2003)
- "Hilf Mir Versteh'nMake Up My HeartMake Up My Heart is the power ballad from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Pearl.During the song, she is deciding between the two she has fallen in love with...
" - Solo (Translates as: "Help me to understand", English Equivalent: Make up my heart) - "Allein im Licht der Sterne" or "Du AlleinOnly You (Pearl and Rusty)"Only You" is the love duet from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by the protagonist, Rusty, a young steam locomotive and his true love, the observation car, Pearl.- Overview :...
" - Duet with Rusty (Translate as: Alone in the Starlight, and You alone, English Equivalents: Next time you fall in love, and Only You )
Revised Bochum
- "Ne Lok mit Locomotion" - Quartet with Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley (Translates as: "A Locomotive with locomotion", English Equivalent: A Lotta Locomotion)
- "Dann pfeift er mir zu"(English equivalent: "He'll whistle at me")
- "Crazy" - Quintet with Rusty, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy(added to the show in 2003)
- "Hilf mir verstehen" - Solo (Translates as: "Help me to understand", English Equivalent: Make up my heart)
- "Nur mit ihm"(English equivalent: "Only He". This is akin to the UK Tour version though, with Rusty joining in halfway through. This song was originally cut from London on technical grounds - Pearl, having just raced half of the Downhill Final, did not have enough time to get her breath back for a tough power ballad.) with Rusty, replacing "Allein im Licht der Sterne".
Japan/Australia tour
- "Engine of Love" - Quintet with Rusty, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy
- "A Lotta Locomotion" - Quartet with Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley
- "Make up My Heart" - Solo
- "Only You" - Duet with Rusty
US and UK tours
- "A Whole Lotta Locomotion" - Quartet with Dinah, Buffy, and Ashley
- "He'll Whistle at me" - Solo
- "Crazy" - Quintet with Rusty, Ashley, Dinah and Buffy
- "Make up My Heart" - Solo
- "Next time you fall in love"(US and early UK) or "Only He/You"(UK) - Duet with Rusty
Expreso Astral
- "No Resiste Mi Corazón" - Solo
- "Si Buscas Otro Amor" - Duet with Rusty
- "Me Chiflará" - Solo
Costume
From 1992 onwards she had "Observation" written across the front of her costume and "PM" (Short for Pullman
Pullman (car or coach)
In the United States, Pullman was used to refer to railroad sleeping cars which were built and operated on most U.S. railroads by the Pullman Company from 1867 to December 31, 1968....
) on her skirt in London, as this was the costume Reva Rice had worn on Broadway and the US Tour. The base was a salmon pink.
The Bochum, Japan/Australia, first US tour and "New" London productions all used the Broadway design, with the all-over pink lycra, paneled skirt with the 'PM' monogram and 'Observation' on a panel across the chest. In London the design was soon adapted and altered, since the designs were flexible there, and lost the 'Observation' panel in favour of a visible cleavage, influenced by Las Vegas redesign.
Although the Las Vegas production initially used the Coaches' costumes from the first US tour, they were soon changed to suit their environment. The leggings came off, the necklines plunged and the skirts shrunk. This was the costume used on the second US tour, and the design came over for the UK tour. Pearl's skirt lost its front panel revealing the crotch of her leotard, and the 'PM' monogram with it. It was replaced by an 'PRR' monogram on her belt, which is the symbol of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company (also represented on Caboose
CB the Red Caboose
CB is a character from the musical Starlight Express. He's a crowd favourite but was removed from the New London and On Ice productions. He seems to have a split personality. Since he is the Caboose, he is willing to help the other trains with their work. Later on, he gets tired of helping them...
).
For the obscure Starlight on Ice production, Pearl's colours changed as well as her whole outfit design. There is no pink but only silver and blue. She wore a skirt fashioned as a wheel around her waist, but it's much shorter than in the original productions. She wore gloves that looked like metal framed windows and wore a small hat.
Wigs and Make-Up
Reva Rice
Reva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....
on Broadway, Lovette George in Bochum) where she either hasn't had a wig at all, or it has been black.
Lovette George
Lovette George
Lovette George was an actress and singer in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions.Shows included Uptown... It's Hot! , Carousel , Marie Christine and The Musical of Musicals ...
's wig was the standard style of topknot with braids and a huge fringe, and great long curls, with lots of sparkly bits pinned in, just made up of black hair rather than pink. Reva Rice originally had no wig at all, which had the unfortunate effect of making the back of her black hair disappear into the background, making her head appear to be about half the size of everyone else's. She also had her hair styled into a bun, presumably to give the look of a ballet dancer, rather than a top-knot. After Broadway, though, she wore a pink wig like everyone else.
In the London production, Pearl's pink wig had a topknot style with a clip behind it. In America, she had a "chimney" styled accessory which made her topknot stand up. In Bochum, she has a topknot with a tiara round it.
Now it is a pink/ purple with black streaks.
In Starlight on Ice, she had a simple ponytail style. She had, rather than pink hair, blonde hair in that production.
Until recently, with the above exceptions, Pearl has always had a variety of pink hair styles. For the recent US and current UK tours however, the delicate pink wig has been removed in favour of a dark beige blonde colour, which ends just at her shoulders.
Pearl's Make-Up follows a colour scheme of pink and white, and occasionally purple or blue in her eye shadow. She wears pink lipstick that is (in some productions) slightly glittery.
Actresses
Although initially played by the mature Stephanie Lawrence, Pearl's part is written for a young, musical-theatre soprano. Some of her songs have at times been transposed down for mezzo sopranos to sing.In Bochum, Pearl is almost always understudied by the actress playing Dinah. Most actresses play Pearl after a year of playing Dinah due to knowing the part so well. These include;
- Nina Pressing
- Clarissa Grace Quinlan
- Rachael Wooding
- Amanda Coutts
- Katie Stewart
Danni Kearsley-Wooller(now Wing) understudied all of the coaches in London(first as Ashley, then as a swing), frequently going on as Pearl, and went on to play Pearl in the German production.
London
- Stephanie LawrenceStephanie LawrenceStephanie Lawrence was a British musical theatre actress.-Background:Stephanie Lawrence was born in Hayling Island, Hampshire, the daughter of a singer and classically trained dancer.She was from an early age close friends with another Famous Islander Peter Chilvers who in 1958 invented the...
- Kim Leeson
- Maria Jane HydeMaria Jane HydeMaria Jane Hyde is an English singer and musical actress.-Early life:Hyde was born 1969 in The Memorial Hospital in Shooters Hill, London, England. Her father, Edward Hyde, is a successful company founder , her mother is Maureen Hyde, née Fennelly. Hyde grew up with her two older brothers in...
- Beverley Brabon
- Reva RiceReva RiceReva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....
- Sam Lane
- Shelley Meredith
- Claudia Bradley
- Amanda Salmon
- Cheryl McAvoy
- Marissa Dunlop
- Jo GibbJo GibbJo Gibb is a Scottish theatre actress best known for her role of Rumpleteazer in the Cats video and as Pearl the Observation Car in Starlight Express...
Broadway
- Reva RiceReva RiceReva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....
Japan/Australia
- Nikki Belsher
First US Tour
- Reva RiceReva RiceReva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....
Bochum
- Maria Jane HydeMaria Jane HydeMaria Jane Hyde is an English singer and musical actress.-Early life:Hyde was born 1969 in The Memorial Hospital in Shooters Hill, London, England. Her father, Edward Hyde, is a successful company founder , her mother is Maureen Hyde, née Fennelly. Hyde grew up with her two older brothers in...
- Lovette GeorgeLovette GeorgeLovette George was an actress and singer in Broadway, off-Broadway and regional productions.Shows included Uptown... It's Hot! , Carousel , Marie Christine and The Musical of Musicals ...
- Claudia Bradley
- Rachelle Rak
- Deborah Odell
- Cheryl McAvoy
- Jennifer Vaden
- Nina Pressing
- Clarissa Grace Quinlan
- Danni Kearsley-Wooller(now Wing)
- Rachael WoodingRachael WoodingRachael Wooding is a Yorkshire born musical theatre performer, best known for her performances in We Will Rock You, playing Meat and understudying Jenna Lee-James as Scaramouche. She most recently played Amber in the original London cast of Hairspray the Musical. Wooding left Hairspray in October...
- Amanda Coutts
- Katie Stewart
- Carla Langridge (née Pullen)
- Georgina HagenGeorgina HagenGeorgina "Georgie" Kimberley Hagen is an English actress and singer, most famous for her appearance as Lauren in ITV's Britannia High...
Japan Tour
- Nikki Belsher
Las Vegas
- Reva RiceReva RiceReva Rice is an American musical theatre actress and singer. She originated the role of Pearl in Starlight Express on Broadway, and played the character in the show's 1992 London run. She also played the role on tour in the USA and in Las Vegas....
- Dawn Marie Church
Mexico
- Maru Dueñas
On Ice
- Jennifer Schmitz
Second US tour
- Clarissa Grace Quinlan
UK Tour
- Jane Horn
- Miria Parvin
- Gemma Atkins
New Zealand Tour
- Rebecca Wright
n.b. this list does not contain understudies, and several of the actresses mentioned played the part more than once in a production.