The Midnight Train Crossing

So after only getting lost a few times we finally found the theatre. That was when it finally really sunk in. Something to the effect of, Oh my God I'm actually here! My dad said that my eyes got very, very wide.
We picked up our tickets at the box office and then went back to our hotel, discovering the much easier route, pretty much a straight walk to our hotel.
We checked to see if our luggage had arrived yet. It hadn't. Feeling rather yucky in still the same clothes I at least fixed my hair. Then just as we were starting to get ready to leave, our luggage arrived, so all was good.
We walked to the theatre and got there early, and stood there outside the Stage Door, waiting for whoever would come first. I was getting very excited at this point, to put it mildly.
There I was, outside of the theatre, an hour until the show would start.

We were watching the train station across the street, I was seriously hoping that I wouldn't walk up to a stranger, or the wrong person or something like that.
A girl in a brown coat with blonde hair came out of the station. She looked across the street, seemed to see us and ran across the street.
I figured that must have been Anna (it was). She ran across the street, in the center of the street, without seeming to look at the traffic.
My first thought was, she's gonna get hit by a car.
Obviously she survived the trek across the street. Once I established that she was indeed Anna I felt better, everything seemed to be working out.
I told her about the saga of our luggage, and how my dad and I must be marked as out of towners because we would actually stop at the corners and look before crossing the street. I guess that the threat of being hit by a car as well as being fined if you get caught running across the middle of a busy street kinda has that effect on you.
Four other girls came out of the station a few minutes later and joined us. Anna said who was who, Belle, TW, Wrenchy and Kristy. One of the things that I'd told them was that I had long hair, and I wore it down. Got the usual long hair reaction from TW. :)
They all got their tickets and then, as it was too early to go in, they said they wanted to get something to eat, and they started across the street to the train station.
Curious as to why we were going to the train station to get food I soon figured it out when I saw the food court upstairs. Belle brought some programs for me to look at, which helped me establish that these strange people with accents were indeed the people I'd been talking to over the internet.

So then back into the theatre where we finally got inside to the lobby. Belle immediately started looking at the board and listing off the actors and what understudies were which. She could tell who was playing which component and which national, and she's telling me, who's just sorta looking around it awe.
I remember being happy that'd I'd get to see Chris Copeland as Electra, since I already knew I liked his voice.
And Belle said something to the effect of, "Okay, we've got Adriano, that's good, he can sing."
After going inside of the theatre itself we established that standing did have a better view then the tickets we'd gotten. *sigh* oh well...
Seeing the set prompted another round of "Oh my God, I'm actually here!" Gave me the revelation of the existence of the circle track and the other tracks. The theatre wasn't as large as I thought it would be though.
Anna introduced me to Casey Jr. the raccoon.
Discovering where exactly the standing section was prompted, "They skate past here?"

Then the announcer came on, "Good evening ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Starlight Express!"
I tightened my grip on the bars and looked back at my dad. This was it.
I didn't think of this at the time, but when he announced the understudies it seemed like the list went on and on and on. I didn't really care though, still don't.
Purple spotlights and "This is Control!" From then on all I remember is the show. I was totally unaware of anything else in that building except for the show.
I remember Bobo's entrance very vividly. I suppose it's because he's the first "train" I saw.

Greaseball's entrance was cool, the way the back of the bowl lifts up.
He fell during Rolling Stock when he jumps up to the top of the bowl. The action during the music part matches the music.

When Rusty entered he skates around the racetrack, very, very, fast. Scared me. Then I realized that I'd just been scared by *Rusty* Oh well. Was very delighted to discover that when Rusty skates he moves his arms like the axle thingers on the wheels of really steam engines, and he mimes pulling a whistle quite a bit. During Call Me Rusty, when Control breaks in Rusty looks very smug.

Freight was cute. I liked how Rusty looked so much more eager to pull the coaches then push the freight train. Then the freight train crashed. The Rockies shadowbox, cuz they're boxcars… :)

The component's entry was rather cool, how they all just materialize out of the green laser light. Chris Copeland was a super amazing Electra, not like I've got anything to compare him to, but hey…
Was wondering how Volta managed to melt into the position that she got into, super flexibility I guess.
He's got a nice evil laugh. :)
He pulls Pearl in, like mimes lasoing her or something like that. She fights him and then he takes her couplings, rather, ahem, interesting looking, then she spins, like he's hypnotized.

Greaseball skated past us to wait for his entrance, but I so totally didn't notice him. He didn't scare me when he shouted "Hold it!" Probably because I was expecting it. Greaseball's adlibs during Pumping Iron were great.

Coda of Freight, when they all march around is pretty cool. When Rusty does his "earth water air fire" bit he skates around and Electra quick jumps out of his way.

Crazy was cool, Rusty goes around the circle track and says, "Come on, let's hear it for steam!"
Purse had a cool voice, and all of his motions were so very exaggerated.
I'd never heard the part where Electra comes in for Pearl. That music is pretty, and I wanted to give Rusty a hug on "did you have to break up my…" Control scared me.

The race was cool, the marshal, racing past, scared me.

Poppa's blues, glad I knew to watch Flat Top in the background. Poppa hit Dustin at the end, that was funny.
Adriano's Rusty's expression was adorable on his, "Steam..."
Race was good, now I finally know how it goes. Poppa gets pushed the wrong way and then falls.
Laughing stock, Pearl sings her lines to Rusty almost.
Starlight Express, was...pretty. Rusty just sorta stands there and sings, but his voice was pretty.

Didn't blink at all during this, according to my dad.

During the interval Belle looked at me and was sorta like "Well?"
I don't remember what I said, was having trouble making any sense at all, something to the effect of "Wow..."
Finally got to sample the traditional Starlight Express fan food, strawberry bootlaces. They were pretty good I guess, I was a bit distracted so I guess I don't really remember. Tasted a lot like Twizlers Pull and Peel.

Second act, first amazing revelation, Rusty pulls the Rockies around the whole time and dances with them. Bobo pulls the coaches around. At the musical part Electra takes center stage and dances.
Didn't see where Poppa and Dustin were during all of this.
Uncoupled, Dinah was cute with her expressions and motions. RSR was pretty nice, Buffy and Ashley, were going up and down and up and down. At least that was my impression.
Race ended on the bridge, like I was told. I sorta missed seeing the crash though.
Dinah gave Electra a Look when he accused Rusty, but he pushed her up the bridge, they looked like they were fighting.
Rusty is in between every one and he had this look of absolute horror when he was accused.
When GB talks to his gang he's talking to the marshals, who go like, "no way!"

RPRT was cool, the jump-roll routine was great!

I am the Starlight was a bit disappointing, it was too dark. Couldn't see anything. But they sounded nice. There was this red light and the back of the set was filled with stars.

During the race the marshals chased after Rusty but stopped, and were shaking their heads on the "Rusty's gonna race…"
During the race, when GB uncoupled Pearl it didn't really seem all that dramatic to me... I missed Pearl running off stage, was watching other parts.
One Rock'n'roll too many was really funny. GB and Elok totally looked stuck together. And then they danced together. :)

When Poppa comes out Dustin tells him "what happened to Pearl." Elok has this "it wasn't me!" expression. They all leave together, Elok and GB bent over double.

End of Next Time, when Rusty and Pearl moved together with really exaggerated arm movements, was really cute.
Rusty and Dustin hug, very cute there too.
Dinah tackles GB! His line is actually, "*groan* Dinah please don't cry."
L@TEOTT the nationals and some of the others skate around the race track and dance right in front of the standing section.
Megamix, same deal.

Overall, all votes in at this point, it was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen in my life.

Afterwards Belle asked me again what I'd thought. I don't remember what I said, I don't know if it was anything intelligent or not, though I bet it wasn't.

So we went out to the Stage Door. I think it was cold outside, though I didn't really feel it, was too happy from the show. I wasn't on cloud nine, more like three hundred and fifteen. :)
I was asked who I wanted them to catch, and I told them whoever they could would be great. I wasn't sure of the routine, so I didn't know how easy or hard it was, and I didn't want to give them an impossible task.
I had the program with the cast list and a sharpie marker. (best idea in the world by my dad) So I was either shoved at people, cause I'm shy, and would *never* have done it on my own. They either shoved me at the actors, or called them over. Either way it was great.
Anna was having actors take their pictures with Casey Jr. Expressions were wonderful upon being asked, "Would you mind having your picture taken with the raccoon?"
So at first whenever actors would come out I'd sorta give TW or Belle or Anna a sorta desperate look like, who are they? Cuz I didn't wanna be a total tourist… Probably ended up acting like one anyway though.
I took the cap off the marker, cuz I figured it would be easier for them to sign. It was amazing how many people tried taking the cap off the pen anyway…and writing all over their hands…
Everybody was very nice. Dustin D, (Greaseball) dropped my pen cap and went after it.
My dad was taking pictures of the autograph signing, as I found out later.
Chris C. came out with a camera for Belle. I was a bit mwa when he came out, looked at her, was like "camera," went back in, and came out with an envelope. Then his girlfriend was holding the door shut, trapping him inside. :)
Helen (Dinah) was nice, she was the only one who asked my name so she could personalize it.
I floated back to the hotel, got back and thought I'd be bouncing off the walls. I didn't think anything would be able to win against post-play euphoria, especially when it was Starlight Express.
But the 36 hours without sleep sorta won out and I crashed, sound asleep.

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