Rusty the Steam Engine
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Rusty is a fictional character from the musical Starlight Express. He is the main protagonist of the musical. Rusty is a steam engine who wants to win the big race yet everyone mocks him, saying that a steam train can't win. When Pearl the Observation Car makes her way onto the scene, he falls madly in love with her and asks if she will be his racing partner. When she turns him down, he keeps trying to get her attention. Later on, Rusty becomes rather depressed; but when Poppa tells him about the Starlight Express, a magical train that makes wishes come true, he begs for the strength to continue. In the end, he wins and Pearl soon realizes that he is the one she loves.
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[edit] Outfit
Rusty's outfit has stayed the same since the beginning. It's slightly bulky with rusty looking material to give off the appearance of a steam train.
[edit] Musical Numbers
Since Rusty is the star of the show, he does alot of singing. When he talks about entering the race, Rusty sings "Call Me Rusty". When he talks about how Pearl should choose him, he breaks into "Crazy" with the Coaches. Near the end, he sings "Only You" with Pearl.
[edit] Criticism
When first starting out, many critics claimed that there was racism within the show since Greaseball the Diesel, 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 the Electric Train was also black.
[edit] Actors
| Actor | Production | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ray Shell | London | 1984 |
| Greg Ellis | London | 1994 |
| James Gillian | London | 1997 |
| Niel Couperthwaite | London | 1998 |
| Adrian Handsel | London | 1999 |
| Mack McGee | London | 2001 |
| James Gillian | UK Tour | 2004 |
| Oliver Rhoe Thornton | UK Tour | 2006 |
[edit] External links
- Rusty — Belle's Domain
