I had no idea what was in store when I arrived at “The Star Wars In Concert” at the O2, and apparently neither did anyone else. Speaking to people after the event, the general consensus was that they had been “blown away” and that it was “even better than expected”. And I must say that I completely agree.
Dynamic and highly entertaining, the show was a breathtaking display of image and sound from start to finish, and a true celebration of John Williams’ music.
The event was presented by the inimitable Anthony Daniels, better known as C-3PO, who brought wit and charm to the occasion. With the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir honouring the composer’s work and a huge three-story-tall, high-definition LED super-screen – one of the largest ever brought on tour – displaying specially edited film footage, the concert can be said to encapsulate the Star Wars experience: a cultural phenomenon that started with “A New Hope” over thirty years ago and has crossed borders and generations, remaining one of the most popular and best-loved film franchises of all time.
The first stop on its European Tour, the Dublin show took advantage of the refitting of the old Point Depot to maximise the sound and lighting potential. The interior was rearranged in an amphitheatre and the natural acoustics of the venue were expertly augmented by the sound system. The lasers and lighting were also exceptional, with dark washes of red for the Imperial themes and white and blue signifying the heroes and their associated characters. Outside the concert hall was a display of various Star Wars props, costumes and artwork that fans clamoured around, getting photographs with models of Chewbacca and various official and unofficial costumed Darth Vaders.
Some of the people I spoke to had never been fans of Star Wars before, but after experiencing this presentation would “absolutely go again, even if it were on tomorrow night”. The only criticism I can make is that the show might be a bit much for younger fans. I know the boy sitting to my left was disappointed that he was seeing clips and not a whole movie, and on several occasions he whined to his dad that he was bored. Whether other children under ten would have the same opinion of course depends entirely on the individual.
Everyone else was just as delighted as I was with the spectacular visuals and glorious audio. The show had clearly been crafted to give fans and newcomers an exhilarating and astounding display of fantasy art, and I can say with great satisfaction that it certainly succeeded.
