Star Wars in Concert!



By all that is good in holy in this universe, Star Wars in Concert was quite possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen live. That is a huge claim to make I am aware; I’ve been blessed with some pretty cool performances in my life, but Star Wars in Concert--in the same room as Anthony Daniels (CP30 for all of you non-geeks out there)--is like stumbling upon the promise land when you didn’t even know you were looking. I mean, it feels like I’ve been wandering the desert for about 40 years so I guess it is about time, but it was just so awesome!

I’m going to geek out now. Geek out in ways that non-geeks might find both disturbing and legitimately fear-inducing.

I cried before the Star Wars theme was done being played. That’s right. Big, wet tears pouring down my face smudging my makeup. Why? Because I should have been playing those gosh darned timpani. I was born to play those timpani! But I also cried because the 13 year old inside of me that (possibly maybe) lay on her bed upset, listening to Star Wars music wishing it were real, has never gone entirely away. I still sometimes (though I cannot confirm nor deny) try to use the force when I’m really, really bored.

You can judge. I saw Star Wars in Concert and you didn’t. I win.

But here’s the thing: Star Wars is part of my soul. No, I’m not being hyperbolic here. I grew up watching those movies over and over and over again. I distinctly remember one summer when my dad would give $2 and tell me to ride my bike to the video store and rent two movies. I would, inevitably, come home with Star Wars and Return of the Jedi. Why he continued to let me pick the movies I will never understand, but I have, literally, never gotten sick of these movies. My notions of morality and heroism were shaped by these movies. My desire to be a musician was fueled in no small part by the music.

I still giggle every time, every time, Luke Skywalker jumps off the plank in ROTJ, spins around in mid-air and jumps back up. Seriously, Jabba the Hutt is ordering his death, Luke gives R2-D2 the nod, the music tenses, then Luke jumps! Spins! Somersaults! It’s the sort of exciting most people need mind-altering drugs to experience. Me? I got Star Wars.

But a person can’t live their life with that amount of geek all over the place or said person would never get a job, a boyfriend with a job, or shower regularly. Trust me. I went on the gk2gk dates. This I know. So you tamp it down, put it away. Grow up and leave your dreams of being a Jedi behind in favor of homework, bills, and responsibility. You don’t really talk about it all that much, and you might even convince yourself that you don’t care that much. It’s something you love, sure, but love in the way you love all nostalgic things of your childhood.

But sometimes--sometimes you get to find Neverland all over again. That’s what Star Wars in Concert was like.

I remembered just how much I like these movies. All 6 of them. (Yeah, I said it.) I remembered just how good the music is. I remembered just how much of what makes me happy is personified in this story. All concerts should be performed this way. The Star Wars Symphony plays while a giant screen plays scenes from the movies and Anthony Daniels narrates. They retell the story through music, lights, and clips. It’s fan-freaking-tastic!

And I also have high hopes that after seeing this a whole group of people that just didn’t get it when they watched episodes 1-3 will catch on. I’m not going to defend them whole, clearly there are parts that are indefensible, but episodes 1-3 are a tragedy, not an adventure story. And episodes 1-3 change the focus of the story from Luke to Anakin/Vader. Once 1-3 came out Star Wars wasn’t about Luke anymore; it was about Vader’s redemption. People can still hate on it, but they should at least understand what they’re hating instead of accusing it of “not being Star Wars.”

Right or wrong (and, like I said, I won’t disagree that Mr. Lucas had some wrong) it’s a really good story. I mean--it’s a really good story. I’m so glad I got to see this. I wasn’t sure I wanted to because I think I was afraid I wouldn’t really care that much. I think I was afraid that the 13 year old had actually died. How wonderful to discover she’s still very much alive, and very much a geek, just waiting for the right opportunity to pop out once again.

Star Wars healed my black little heart!

Wait for it…

Wait for it…

May the force be with you.