If you're wondering who the HECK Belle is, here ya go! The character I use as my screen name, Belle, *IS* a genuine Starlight character. She was in the original London show, and on Broadway, but cut from all subsequent productions. Belle is an old sleeping car, who hangs round Poppa and the freight cars. She had her own song, introducing herself, which came directly after Poppa's Blues, when Poppa suggested to Rusty that he could take her as his racing partner after being dumped by Pearl. In the original London show, Rusty took up the offer, and they raced in heat 2, and were beaten by Electra and Pearl. Belle put in several appearances in act 2 - she was very vocal in The Rap - riding behind Rusty and in front of the Rockies, and arguing strongly for Rusty to be allowed to take Poppa's place in the final, despite Rusty's being disqualified for losing heat 2. She then was in the background while Dinah sang "U.N.C.O.U.P.L.E.D.", and led the coaches in "Rolling Stock Reprise". She didn't get to race again, but she sang "Light At the End Of The Tunnel" with Poppa. In the Broadway production, Belle's role was much diminished- they changed the structure of the races, original London had 3 engines, 3 heats, and 3 entrants in the final. But for Broadway, they made it 2 heats, each race with 4 engines, and the first 2 in each heat made the final. This meant that Rusty didn't race in a heat, so he didn't need a coach, so he didn't race with Belle! Belle's role consisted of: singing her song after Poppa's Blues, falling asleep, then in act 2 singing "Light At the End Of The Tunnel". Understandably having such a pointless role, they cut her completely from subsequent productions. Still, it's a big loss to the show as her song is FABULOUS!

Belle in the News

BELLE ACTRESSES
London
1984-85 - P. P. Arnold
1985-90 - Shezwae Powell
1990-91 - Erin Lordan
1991-92 -Sam Lane

Broadway
Janet Williams-Adderley


Belle backstage



ONSTAGE Belle

Belle's Song - London Version

Memphis Belle - Broadway version

Looks and youth ain't everything Experience is a quality that counts for a lot The sad thing 'bout experience, is by the time you've got it It's usually all you've got I'm Belle, Belle, Belle the sleeping car Doesn't matter who you are Just climb aboard to lie with me And when you wake I'll make you tea A Pullman car when I was made I went down for the seaside trade I'm peeling now, the light's too bright I wear dark glasses day and night I had crystal lamps, Irish linen To set off my red velvet dress Those who rode on me compared me to The Orient Express - that was excessive But now they climb aboard, undress Don't wait for me to whisper, 'yes' Don't say goodnight, just hit the light And worst of all turn over and go straight to sleep Once I was a real main liner Enjoying the occasional smoke Now I hang around the fuel dump Sniffing the coke, It really chokes me I'm Belle, Belle, Belle the sleeping truck I'm down at wheel down off my luck I may not be first class but I'm not yet worst class I can still warm you when the night is cold I'm a sleeper with a heart of gold I can still warm you when the night is cold I'm a sleeper with a heart of gold

Looks and youth ain't everything Experience is a quality that counts for a lot The sad thing 'bout experience, is by the time you've got it It's usually all you've got I'm Memphis Belle, the sleeping car Doesn't matter who you are Pay your fare and climb aboard I'll make you feel you're a lord I was young, I was the toast Those who took me to the coast Then one great day, when we dined with Kent, I was bought by Mr Brandterbilt I had crystal lamps, Irish linen To set off my red velvet dress Those who rode on me compared me to The Orient Express - that was excessive... But now I get the sort of guys Who take their teeth out - then their eyes Don't say goodnight, just hit the light And wheeze and snore to Baltimore Seen a lot of judges disrobing And statesmen in states of undress One day I shall sell my memoirs to The popular press - or True Confessions I'm Belle, Belle, Belle the sleeping car Won't you catch me, falling star... Pearl of a nation, way beneath my station But I can still warm you when the night is cold I'm a sleeper with a heart of gold