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 Pearl and they race in the heats until she chooses Greaseball. Electra then takes Dinah for the uphill Final after Greaseball dumps her. Dissatisfied with his performance, Dinah disconnects herself from him and he calls for CB to race with him for the re-run Final. In the end, he crashes along with Greaseball and CB.

Character

Electra is, from the moment he enters, seen as some sort of Prima Donna. Even before then, as we meet his components, we aretold he is a "megastar" and "rich, and cool". He also seems to think a lot of himself, and the subtext in his song (along with choreography and his character tick-overs) suggests he is AC/DC.

Inspiration

Electra's character is influenced by David Bowie, an androgynous Rock Star. He, along with Greaseball the Diesel, are the Ugly stepsisters in the original concept of the show being Cinderella for trains. He also reminds some of the Rum Tum Tugger from the musical "Cats" because both are vain, sexy and rebellious.

Musical numbers

Electra sings "AC/DC", his opening theme and also features in group numbers. In the Original London version he has a second solo "No Comeback", which he sings as he leaves in a rage after losing the Race final to Rusty. This song did not appear in any subsequent productions.He now sings "One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many" with Greaseball and Caboose.

Costume

Electra's costume is based on a palatte of electric blue, silver and red. He is patterned to resemble computer circuitry. His impressive mohawk is usually styled to resemble frayed wire, but when played by John Partridge his head was shaved and painted. His look bears a passing resemblance to other mechanoids, Transformers. As one of the most eye-catching designs, Electra is often used for advertising the show.

Electra's Components are designed to represent elements of a Superstar's entourage. Krupp is the Chauffeur and Bodyguard, represented in his uniformed hat, sunshades and gun holster. Wrench, as a mechanic, wears a welding apron and her hat represents the crane found on repair trucks. Purse wears pinstripes as suits an accountant. Joule's London design reflected her Animal Truck origin, her skintight red/grey costume and white bib resembling Bombalurina from the musical Cats. Volta wears elegant black, her hair styled into a fan, reflecting her nature of a Freezer Truck. All the component's costumes are designed on a restricted colour palatte of Red, Electric Blue, Silver/Grey and Black, this reinforces their relationship to Electra onstage.

In Starlight on Ice, Electra and the components' outfits change. Instead of being colorful, Electra is now bright "warning sign" yellow with a matching mohawk. His look is much sleeker and bears no resemblance to the original design. The components wear very similar outfits which are yellow and silver.

Electra's Make-Up

Electra's make-up is visually the most stunning in the show; an assortment of blue, silver and red glittered stripes, patterns and lipstick, as well as a lovely pair of long, silver eyelashes. In the London production, his look was less camp, and he had a black and white checkered pattern on one side of his face.

Actors

London

* Jeffrey Daniel
* Tom Jobe
* Maynard Williams
* Koffi Missah
* Christian Hughes
* Greg Ellis
* John Partridge
* Richard Mylan
* Chris Lennon
* Spencer Stafford
* Grant Anthony
* Chris Copeland

Broadway

* Ken Ard

Japan/Australia

* David Michael Johnson

First US Tour

* Eric Clausell
* Michael Demby Cain

Bochum

* Eric Clausell
* David Michael Johnson
* CE Wallace Jnr
* Koffi Missah
* Mykal Rand
* John Eric Parker
* Andreas Wolfram
* Paul Hazel
* Robert S Drummond III
* Paul J Dudley
* Richard Woodford
* Leon Maurice Jones

Japan Tour

* Mykal Rand

Las Vegas

* Anthony T. Perry
* Eric Clausell
* Regi Jennings

Mexico

* Jaime Rojas

On Ice

* Hank Green

Second US tour

* Dustin Dubreuil

UK Tour

* Mykal Rand

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Electra (middle) with his compartments: Krupp (above), Purse (upper right), Volta (lower right), Wrench (lower left) and Joule (upper left).

Electra's components

* Krupp - is the Armaments truck and Electra's body guard. In the Later London version he raced with Nintendo the Japanese engine. He was cut from the US and UK tours.

* Volta - Electra's freezer truck and original race partner. Her look is cool and elegant, a very classy lady but she can be scary when angered.

* Joule - Starting out as Electra's animal truck, Joule is one of the trucks who has changed the most since the show's opening. Now as the dynamite truck, Joule is the most sensual of Electra's cars. She has been seen pole dancing at the edge of the stage and when Ruhrgold, her London racing partner lost their race, she spanked him all the way off stage.

* Wrench - Electra's repair truck. She has a temper and can be rather scary when angered. Although a female character, she has been cast male in the German production over recent years.

* Purse - Electra's most valuable car, his money truck. He also serves as a messenger. He doesn't race. His anthropomorphic tendencies and tickovers are based on his being an accountant. He also has, if you can get close enough to look, a coin in the palm of his hand.

The componants costumes, headresses and make-up are just as fantastical as Electra's, following very similar ideas for fabric and embellishments.

Component actors and actresses

Krupp

London

* Eddie Kemp
* Garry Noakes
* George Canning
* Michael Skyers
* Julian Cannonier
* Paul Aloysius
* Richard Ray Allen

Broadway

* Joey McKneeley
* Mark Frawley

Japan/Australia

* Krupp 1 – Wilton Anderson
* Krupp 2 – Bernie Blanks

First US Tour

* Nelson Yee

Bochum

* Wilton Anderson
* Richard Amiel
* Rodney McGuire
* Robert Dean
* Orlando Pena
* Dolan Jose
* Todd Bowers
* Raymond Martinez
* Andrew Gardner
* Adrian Edmeades
* Christian DeVaras
* Christopher Kinds
* Nick Crossley
* Andrew Simeon
* Toby Poole
* Gareth Bretherton
* Joe Ryan

Japan Tour

* Krupp 1 – Hideaki Kamimura
* Krupp 2 – Michael Skyers

Las Vegas

* Nelson Yee
* Chris Galen

Mexico

* Efrain Gonzalez

On Ice

* Mark Naylor

Second US tour

* (cut)

UK Tour

* (cut)

Purse

London

* Koffi Missah
* Robin Wright
* Gary Cordice
* Stephen Russell
* Robert Yeal
* Marco Ferraro
* Sandy Rass
* Stuart Sweeting
* David Hulston
* Sebastian Craig
* Martin Matthias
* Todd Talbot

Broadway

* Gordon Owens

Japan/Australia

* WayneWilliams

First US Tour

* Michael Demby Cain
* Jamie

Bochum

* Christopher Todd
* Hans Langen
* Marco Kraemer
* Robert Hardware
* Gary Albers
* Tobby Lee Hutaff
* Mike Jackson
* James Whittington
* Michael Clauder
* Steven Seale
* Gianni Salvucci
* Ian Oswald

Japan Tour

* Sebastian Craig

Las Vegas

* Marvin Engran
* Terence Yancey
* Regi Jennings
* R. T. Smith

Mexico

* Erick Frias

On Ice

* Brent Frank

Second US tour

* Aaron Coulson

UK Tour

* Matthew Boulton
* Ben Draper
* Lee Lomas

Wrench

London

* Carole Amphlett
* Zoe Caryl
* Sam Lane
* Michelle-Anne Musty
* Samantha Biddulph
* Sophie Hamilton
* Tara Wilkinson
* Jane Housley
* Sharon Mudie
* Pippa Gebette
* Amy Field
* Kate Alexander

Broadway

* Christina Youngman

Japan/Australia

* Louise Conte

First US Tour

* Renee Lynette Chambers

Bochum

* Louise Conte
* Gabriella Almerigi
* Annemiek Kloek
* Dawn Leigh-Woods
* Nicky Forsyth
* Andrea Leslie
* Juliette Verne
* Melanie Housley Cozens
* Ruth Anderson
* Giorgia Barberi
* Kirsty Wone
* Kati Heidibrecht
* Emma Nelson
* Melissa Keyes
* Rebecca Lisewski
* Peelee
* Michael Byrne
* Marc McFayden

Japan Tour

* Miwako Montani

Las Vegas

* Natasha Rennalls
* Nicole Discola
* Sheri Kush

Mexico

* Angelica Sotomayor

On Ice

* Lisa Dernsio

Second US tour

* Robyn Hurder

UK Tour

* Ruthie Stephens
* Bekki Carpenter
* Amy Webb

Volta

London

* Voyd
* Caron Cardelle
* C Jay Ranger
* Ruth Welby
* Nicky Lawson
* Lyndi Oliver
* Marissa Dunlop
* Rebekka Gibbs
* Stephanie Spellman
* Danielle Harley
* Amanda Valentine
* Gabrielle Noble
* Louise Jones

Broadway

* Mary Ann Lamb
* Dorie Herndon

Japan/Australia

* Amanda Abbs

First US Tour

* Kimberly A Gladman

Bochum

* Leesa Osborn
* Dawn Leigh-Woods
* Christine Walsh

Japan Tour

* Volta 1 – Leah-Sue Morland
* Volta 2 – Yuriko Takamori

Las Vegas

* Anne M Tiger
* Kelly Love
* Paula Carlyle

Mexico

* Marisol Del Olmo

On Ice

* Lisa Bell

Second US tour

* Suzanne Wogisch

UK Tour

* Lauren Brooke
* Rebecca Lisewski
* Saskia Lockey
* Carla Pullen

Joule

London

* Debbie Wake
* Becky Norman
* Annabel Daniels
* Stephanie Alimbau
* Rebecca Price
* Rebecca Holland
* Casey-Lee Jolleys
* C Jay Ranger
* Sascha Kane
* Simone White
* Lisa Beckwith
* Emma Dodd

Broadway

* Nicole Pickard
* Kimberly Blake

Japan/Australia

* Joule 1 – Bonita Byrg
* Joule 2 – Pollyanna Buckingham

First US Tour

* Angela Pupello
* Chera Wilson

Bochum

* Janina Baucke
* Annika Sundstroem
* Stephanie Spellman
* Amanda Clarke
* Louanne Madorma
* Carrie Green
* Janeen Amico
* Mayuni Omagari
* Kathleen Mullin
* Dorina Maltschewa
* Kirsty Wone
* Marides Lazo
* Amanda Foad
* Leanne Garretty
* Emma-Katie Adcock
* Rachelle Walker

Japan Tour

* Joule 1 – Frances Wingate
* Joule 2 – Lauren O’Reilly

Las Vegas

* Jennifer Bizik
* Natasha Rennalls
* Raquel Baldwin
* Gary Albers

Mexico

* Karen Juantorena

On Ice

* Anne MacWilliams

Second US tour

* Kelly Stensland

UK Tour

* Danielle-Leigh Morris
* Holly James
* Emma Stephens