Belle the Sleeping Car

and persuades her to fight back in "Rolling Stock (Reprise)".

Belle's role was minimised in the Broadway production, to her singing her solo then only reappearing for the finale. In all subsequent productions Belle was omitted from the show altogether, with the intent to streamline and shorten the productions.

Character

Belle is warm and motherly toward Rusty and the freight.She is not like the other coaches, but she is good friends with them and offers Dinah advice and comfort in "Rolling Stock (Reprise)". Belle is Poppa's coach from years back and according to some, (if the father-son theory about Poppa and Rusty is true) Rusty's mother. However this theory makes little sense as Rusty is introduced to Belle for the first time in "Belle's Song".

Inspiration

Belle is based loosely on Ella Fitzgerald, and similar blues divas. The name "Belle" in relation to railways is often used for luxury tourist services such as Brighton Belle, a Pullman train (UK). Many of the references in her song lyrics relate to this type of train, such as "A Pullman car when I was made/I went down for the seaside trade".

ongs

*Belle the Sleeping car - Solo -

*The Rap - some solo lines.

*Girl's Rolling stock - quartet, in which she sang the main vocal.

*Light At the End of the Tunnel - some solo lines.

Belle's Song is a forgotten gem in Lloyd Webber's repertoire. Originally performed by P. P. Arnold, it is a powerful blues-inspired ballad in which Belle tells Rusty about her life as a luxury Sleeper. It bears contextual similarities to the huge hit Memory from Cats, but without the suicidal undertones. It was cut from the show with Belle but the melody is still heard within the orchestrations, sung by Rusty and Dustin.

Costume

Belle's costume is red and worn looking, as referenced in the lyrics of her song. She has velvet swagged curtains for a skirt, one fishnet stocking and broken glass in her 'windows'. She has black hair in braids. Her bodice is suggestive of a victorian-style corset, lacing up the front.

Actresses

London

* P. P. Arnold
* Shezwae Powell
* Alison Therese Limerick
* Erin Lordan
* Sam Lane

Broadway

* Janet Williams-Adderley