Rusty the Steam Engine
Encyclopedia
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 Diesel and Electric engines now vie for supremacy. When Pearl
makes her way onto the scene, he falls madly in love with her and asks if she will be his racing partner. She agrees, as long as no-one better comes along. When she turns him down for newcomer Electra
, he keeps trying to get her attention. Later on, Rusty becomes disheartened and unwilling to race; but then Poppa
tells him about the Starlight Express, a magical train that helps those who call on him. Originally he initially raced with Belle, and lost to Electra. Poppa then, to prove that steam engines can still race, raced in the third heat and won - nearly killing himself. He begs Rusty to take his place in the final, to win for him. Rusty calls on the Starlight Express to help him, and discovers his inner strength. In the end, he wins and Pearl soon realizes that he is the one she loves.
In later productions Rusty did not race in the heats, only the finals. Poppa raced instead of him in the second heat because he was sulking and wouldn't race without Pearl.
and Flat-Top the Brick Truck
, but even then he spends more of his time with Pearl. He has big ideas about who he is and who he could be. But he is heart-broken when everyone (especially Pearl) ridicules him.
Sometimes he is portrayed as a hopeless dreamer, clearly far inferior to the Electric and Diesel competitors. Other actors portray him as having the ability, but not the self confidence to be a champion. In the original production, singing "Call Me Rusty (if you dare)", he was an angrier character, but "Engine of Love" and "Crazy" suggest a more cheerful, optimistic kid with big dreams.
and Electra the electric train
fulfilled the roles of the ugly sisters, while the Starlight Express was the fairy Godmother.
Rusty sings the show-stopping "Starlight Sequence" with the Starlight Express/Poppa. The melodic themes used in this number combine Rusty's iconic "Starlight Express" melody, with the "Only You" melody used in the duet between Rusty and Pearl. The "Only You" melody and lyrics speak of discovery and self-realisation. The "Starlight Express" melody is used in the overture as we enter into Control's dream world, then at the end of act 1 when Rusty is searching his soul for guidance. The melody represents mystery, questioning. The two melodies combine, Rusty, confused and questioning, the Starlight Express guiding him. Rusty and Poppa also share the "Engine of Love" melodic theme, heard in the race music when one of the steam trains takes the lead.
In the show, it is Rusty's relationships that keep him going, and the 'only you' theme is used to show Rusty's motivations. He wants to win: for Pearl so she'll love him; Poppa, to make him proud; and the Starlight, who also convinces him to win for himself. Lloyd Webber is often derided as a pop composer, but his sung-through musicals often show this level of thematic story-telling within the scoring.
.
Revised London
Bochum
Revised Bochum
UK/US tour
Japan/Australia tour
Rusty in London is based on a stoker's dungarees and hat, with an open boiler on his chest and a coal tender on his back. He has pressure gauges on either side of the burner doors, and his overalls are striped under the decoration in black and brown. Originally he had a large round hat, with a chinstrap, but this was changed for a cap(with most of the brim removed so as not to cast a shadow on his face) at the 1992 revamp. He has wheels on his kneepads as well as on his thighs and wrists.
The Broadway redesign, used in all subsequent productions, saw him become red and black (orange added later on), with riveted patches rather than striped overalls. This version is a black train that has rusted, whereas originally he was rust-coloured all over. The hat came off in favour of a sweatband, and his kneepads were emblazoned with the number 0503. The dungarees became far baggier and more obvious. Railings were put around his upper arms and knitted warmers on his wrists. Interestingly, Rusty had two costumes in the Broadway production - a second one, which he wore after the Starlight Sequence, was that of himself restored- no longer rusty. The same design, but in black and silver.
When he re-emerged in this costume he introduced himself as the Starlight Express
, and no-one on stage recognised him as the little steam shunter they had bullied.
In the short-lived Starlight on Ice, Rusty's costume changed drastically, like all the costumes of this production. He wore striped yellow and blue overalls with a red shirt under it. He also wore a baseball hat backwards as well. On his chest is a large, metal circle. All in all, he looked a great deal like the Haribo kid
, one of Rusty's tormentors, was white, while Ray Shell
, the original Rusty, was black. However, these were put to rest because the actor who played Electra
was also black.
Broadway
Japan/Australia
First US Tour
Bochum
Japan Tour
Las Vegas
Mexico
On Ice
Second US tour
UK Tour
New Zealand Tour
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...
. 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 Diesel and Electric engines now vie for supremacy. When Pearl
Pearl the Observation Car
Pearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...
makes her way onto the scene, he falls madly in love with her and asks if she will be his racing partner. She agrees, as long as no-one better comes along. When she turns him down for newcomer 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...
, he keeps trying to get her attention. Later on, Rusty becomes disheartened and unwilling to race; but then Poppa
Poppa
Poppa is a character from the rock musical, Starlight Express. He's a steam engine like protagonist Rusty and is the oldest train of all. Control introduces him as "Ramblin' Poppa McCoy". He preaches of the Starlight Express, a god-like figure that will help those who call on him...
tells him about the Starlight Express, a magical train that helps those who call on him. Originally he initially raced with Belle, and lost to Electra. Poppa then, to prove that steam engines can still race, raced in the third heat and won - nearly killing himself. He begs Rusty to take his place in the final, to win for him. Rusty calls on the Starlight Express to help him, and discovers his inner strength. In the end, he wins and Pearl soon realizes that he is the one she loves.
In later productions Rusty did not race in the heats, only the finals. Poppa raced instead of him in the second heat because he was sulking and wouldn't race without Pearl.
Character
Rusty is sweet, innocent and timid, but he is easily provoked. This is clear when Pearl rejects him and he refuses to race without her. His best friends in the world are DustinDustin
Dustin is a masculine given name. It originates from an English surname, which is derived from a Norman personal name, which is probably derived from the Old Norse Ðórsteinn...
and Flat-Top the Brick Truck
Flat-Top the Brick Truck
Flat-Top is the brick truck from the musical Starlight Express. Often played as a punk, Flat-Top tries his hardest to be seen as the rebel without a cause. Still, underneath it all, he's actually a sweet and caring kind of guy. He idolizes Greaseball but doesn't see how mean Greaseball is until he...
, but even then he spends more of his time with Pearl. He has big ideas about who he is and who he could be. But he is heart-broken when everyone (especially Pearl) ridicules him.
Sometimes he is portrayed as a hopeless dreamer, clearly far inferior to the Electric and Diesel competitors. Other actors portray him as having the ability, but not the self confidence to be a champion. In the original production, singing "Call Me Rusty (if you dare)", he was an angrier character, but "Engine of Love" and "Crazy" suggest a more cheerful, optimistic kid with big dreams.
Inspiration
The character for Rusty is a male Cinderella - the basis for the story. Greaseball the DieselGreaseball 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...
and Electra the electric train
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...
fulfilled the roles of the ugly sisters, while the Starlight Express was the fairy Godmother.
Melodic Themes
Rusty is almost always introduced with the lyrics 'Woo Woo! Woo Woo! Nobody can do it like a steam train!'.Rusty sings the show-stopping "Starlight Sequence" with the Starlight Express/Poppa. The melodic themes used in this number combine Rusty's iconic "Starlight Express" melody, with the "Only You" melody used in the duet between Rusty and Pearl. The "Only You" melody and lyrics speak of discovery and self-realisation. The "Starlight Express" melody is used in the overture as we enter into Control's dream world, then at the end of act 1 when Rusty is searching his soul for guidance. The melody represents mystery, questioning. The two melodies combine, Rusty, confused and questioning, the Starlight Express guiding him. Rusty and Poppa also share the "Engine of Love" melodic theme, heard in the race music when one of the steam trains takes the lead.
In the show, it is Rusty's relationships that keep him going, and the 'only you' theme is used to show Rusty's motivations. He wants to win: for Pearl so she'll love him; Poppa, to make him proud; and the Starlight, who also convinces him to win for himself. Lloyd Webber is often derided as a pop composer, but his sung-through musicals often show this level of thematic story-telling within the scoring.
Choreography
Rusty moves his arms in a circular fashion to symbolise he is a Steam locomotive. This is also used by Poppa and mimicked by PearlPearl the Observation Car
Pearl is the "new girl" character and female lead in the West End musical Starlight Express. She is a railway observation carriage, although in Germany she is referred to as the "first class car"...
.
Musical numbers
Original London- Call me Rusty - with the coaches
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Starlight ExpressStarlight Express (song)Starlight Express is the 'showstopper' number from the musical with the same name. In the show, it is performed by Rusty, the show's protagonist...
- Solo - I am the Starlight - with the StarlightPoppaPoppa is a character from the rock musical, Starlight Express. He's a steam engine like protagonist Rusty and is the oldest train of all. Control introduces him as "Ramblin' Poppa McCoy". He preaches of the Starlight Express, a god-like figure that will help those who call on him...
- 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 :...
- with Pearl.
Revised London
- Call Me Rusty - shortened version with the coaches
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches
- Starlight ExpressStarlight Express (song)Starlight Express is the 'showstopper' number from the musical with the same name. In the show, it is performed by Rusty, the show's protagonist...
- Solo - Starlight SequenceStarlight SequenceThe Starlight Sequence is a showstopper from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Rusty, a young, naive Steam Locomotive and the Starlight Express, a magical Steam Locomotive that comes at midnight to help Steam Locomotioves in need...
- with the Starlight - Next time you fall in love - with Pearl.
Bochum
- Liebesexpress (Love train (Engine of love)) - with the coaches
- Endlich kommt für mich die Zeit (Finally the time comes for me (Call Me Rusty)) - with the coaches
- Fracht Reprise (Freight Reprise (Coda of Freight))- Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches (2002 onwards)
- Starlight ExpressStarlight Express (song)Starlight Express is the 'showstopper' number from the musical with the same name. In the show, it is performed by Rusty, the show's protagonist...
- Solo - Starlight SequenzStarlight SequenceThe Starlight Sequence is a showstopper from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. It is performed by Rusty, a young, naive Steam Locomotive and the Starlight Express, a magical Steam Locomotive that comes at midnight to help Steam Locomotioves in need...
- with the Starlight - Allein im licht der Sterne (Alone in the starlight (Next time you fall in love)) (2002 onwards) 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 :...
(You alone (Only You)) (until 2002) - with Pearl.
Revised Bochum
- Fracht Reprise (Freight Reprise (Coda of Freight))- Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches (2002 onwards)
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequenz - with the Starlight
- Nur Mit Ihm Only 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 :...
- (Only With Him (Only He))- With Pearl
UK/US tour
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Crazy - with the coaches
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequence - with the Starlight
- Next time you fall in love(US and the early UK) or Only he (UK) - with Pearl.
Japan/Australia tour
- Engine of Love - with the coaches
- Coda of Freight - Chorus, in which he takes lead solo
- Starlight Express - Solo
- Starlight Sequence - with the Starlight
- Only you - with Pearl.
Costume
The Broadway redesign, used in all subsequent productions, saw him become red and black (orange added later on), with riveted patches rather than striped overalls. This version is a black train that has rusted, whereas originally he was rust-coloured all over. The hat came off in favour of a sweatband, and his kneepads were emblazoned with the number 0503. The dungarees became far baggier and more obvious. Railings were put around his upper arms and knitted warmers on his wrists. Interestingly, Rusty had two costumes in the Broadway production - a second one, which he wore after the Starlight Sequence, was that of himself restored- no longer rusty. The same design, but in black and silver.
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...
, and no-one on stage recognised him as the little steam shunter they had bullied.
In the short-lived Starlight on Ice, Rusty's costume changed drastically, like all the costumes of this production. He wore striped yellow and blue overalls with a red shirt under it. He also wore a baseball hat backwards as well. On his chest is a large, metal circle. All in all, he looked a great deal like the Haribo kid
HARIBO
Haribo is a German confectionery producer, founded in 1920 by Hans Riegel Sr. The company headquarters are in Bonn, and the name is an acronym for Hans Riegel, Bonn....
Make-Up
Rusty's make up is usually very simple - brown shadow under the eyebrows, eye-liner under the eyes, two crosses - one on each cheek (sometimes integrated with shading) - five 'rivets' round his chin and one on the end of his nose. In later productions, he was given neon orange lip gloss and glittery orange cheeks.Names
Rusty has been through several name changes. In English speaking productions, he has always been "Rusty", but Bochum had him listed as "Rosty" for a year before he was changed back to "Rusty". In the 1997 Mexican production Expreso Astral, he was named "Ferro" to better integrate into the language.Criticism
When first starting out, many critics claimed that there was racism within the show since GreaseballGreaseball 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...
, one of Rusty's tormentors, was white, while Ray Shell
Ray Shell
Ray Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...
, the original Rusty, was black. However, these were put to rest because the actor who played 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...
was also black.
Actors
London- Ray ShellRay ShellRay Shell is an African American, film, TV and stage actor, as well as an author, director and producer. He is famous for creating the roles of Nomax in Five Guys Named Moe and Rusty in Starlight Express...
- Koffi Missah
- Bobby Collins****
- Gary Cordice
- Michael Cahill
- Greg EllisGreg Ellis (actor)Greg Ellis is an English actor known for his TV, movie, and video game voice over work. He has appeared in films such as the Pirates of the Caribbean series, the 2009 Star Trek film , Titanic, Beowulf, To End All Wars, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith...
- Paul Baker
- James GillanJames Gillan (actor)James Gillan is a Scottish stage actor born in Glasgow, and trained at The Arts Educational Schools in London....
* - Neil Couperthwaite
- Adrian Hansel
- Mark McGee
- Neil Robertson [Kristen Roberts]
Broadway
- Greg Mowry
Japan/Australia
- Bobby Collins****
First US Tour
- Sean McDermott
Bochum
- Steven Michael Skeels
- Uwe Kröger
- Bernie Blanks
- Kapa Kitchen
- Colin Munro
- Mark Daye
- Ernest Marchain
- George Alex Livings
- Paul Whitaker
- Neil Couperthwaite
- Rommel Singson
- Jamie Golding
- Kevin Köhler
- Marcel Brauneis
Japan Tour
- Bobby Collins
Las Vegas
- Steven Michael Skeels
- Greg Ellis
- Freddie T
- Ernest Marchain
Mexico
- Ricardo Santo
On Ice
- Norm Proft
Second US tour
- Franklyn Warfield
UK Tour
- James GillanJames Gillan (actor)James Gillan is a Scottish stage actor born in Glasgow, and trained at The Arts Educational Schools in London....
- Oliver ThorntonOliver ThorntonOliver Thornton is an stage actor and singer who is best known for his contributions to musical theatre in London's West End. He currently stars in Priscilla Queen of the Desert at the Palace Theatre.- Early life :...
- Kristopher Harding
- Adam Ellis
New Zealand Tour
- Jamie Golding