By David Iskra
It's over. Or is it?
The house lights are on, the show is packed up and the trucks have left. The crew is exhausted and the audience has gone home. All of these weeks, months and for some, years of work have finally paid off. Most importantly, the Maker himself is pleased.
That's right, Star Wars: A Musical Journey concluded its two-night run at London's O2 arena with a surprise appearance from George Lucas himself. He must have heard the buzz from Friday night's premiere, which received a standing ovation and thunderous applause and decided to come have a look for himself.
Needless to say, if George is happy, then the production team is REALLY happy!
Let's take a quick look back at the week:
On Friday afternoon, something strange began to happen at the O2 arena. People were spotted in white armor. Children were seen carrying glowing sticks and women with blue skin were buying coffee.
O2 Security asked us what was going on to which we replied: "It's simple, it's Star Wars." This is what Star Wars does. It brings out the fans and Star Wars: A Musical Journey is no different.
UK members of the 501st and the Rebel Legion began patrolling the vast O2 concourse and entertaining visitors at the exhibit. There was a charge in the air. It was clear that the anticipation for this show had reached a frenzy. The O2 hosts various concerts and exhibits but they had never seen anything like this. Everywhere you looked, adults and children alike were in costume, carrying lightsabers or wearing their favorite Star Wars shirts. Our attentive eyes even spotted a number of Star Wars: Celebration Europe gear as well.
In the exhibit area, attendees took pictures against large Star Wars photo backdrops and watched the specially-created behind-the-scenes video content. Meanwhile, fans marveled at the exquisite detail of the costumes on display. It's hard to see the carvings in Plo Koon's mask on the big screen, but up close, it's clear why ILM is the best of the best.
Many Clone Wars fans were also very excited to see Kit Fisto in the (green) flesh! These two Jedi Masters have never been part of an exhibit before and with a long road ahead of them, plenty of fans will finally get a chance to see them up close.
Later in the evening, thousands of fans took their seats, eager to get the sold-out show started. The pre-show was an audio treat. Several of Ben Burtt's signature Star Wars sounds whirred to life on the killer sound system. Pod Racers rumbled past and TIE fighters screamed around the enormous venue. For some, this alone was worth the price of admission.
With vendors selling programs and popcorn, it felt like a combination of Star Wars, a baseball game and a rock concert. There was no denying that this was going to be a large scale Star Wars event like nothing else.
Finally, the house lights dimmed and the instantly recognizable THX sound shook the floor. The orchestra was silhouetted against the rising curtain and the familiar 20th Century Fox fanfare set off the show just as it does the movies. A thunderous applause signified that it was ok to begin and conductor Dirk Brossè set off on the musical journey we've all been waiting for.
For the next two hours, fans were thrilled by classic tracks from both the original trilogy and the prequels. It was made perfectly clear that John William's score truly ties the entire saga together.
Behind the orchestra stood the world's largest LED screen, which featured not only the films but also the orchestra itself. Orchestras play every night around the world but rarely if ever do they get showcased in this style. It was awe-inspiring and the gasps from the audience clearly let us know that they liked what they saw.
Throughout the night, the journey was guided by goldenrod himself, Anthony Daniels. His face no longer hidden by a golden mask, Mr. Daniels narrated the story of Star Wars, introducing each musical piece to the audience.
His performance was a mix of humor and storytelling that set a perfect tone for the evening. I couldn't help but think of the scene in Jedi when Threepio tells the Ewoks the story of their adventure -- only this time, he was wearing a tux!
As the night progressed, the entire production continued to grow. A tasteful laser display opened the second act which clearly delighted the audience. It was great to see such an effect used with restraint rather than going for the "wow" factor -- and it worked perfectly.
By the end of the night, the story had been told, the music had been played and still fans wanted more. There was a much deserved standing ovation as the credits rolled and backstage, we knew we had a hit on our hands.
On Saturday, things were no different other than the fact that George Lucas, the creator himself, was in the audience. But even that couldn't rattle our top-notch crew. We knew we had a good thing and we were proud to show it. Again, the audience went wild and the show was well received by not only the fans but George as well.
As soon as the final notes wafted through the air, the crew began the monumental task of tearing down both the enormous screen and sound system while the exhibit staff began to carefully prep and pack the priceless costumes and props for travel to the next city.
A lot of people want to know where they can see the show next. I can't give away that vital information just yet but let me just say that you will soon have all of the information you seek.
This journey has only just begun...
