Concert dazzles Star Wars nerds of all ages

It’s rare to arrive at an event and see both Jedi younglings and couples in formal wear waiting in line to get in, but that’s what is unique about Star Wars — it’s loved by all.

The “Star Wars: In Concert” tour, which stopped in Raleigh for two showings Sunday, boasted a professional live symphony orchestra, highlights and sequences from all six movies, narration of the events and a lights show.

Everything came together to create a captivating and remarkable performance.

The six-movie saga, which premiered in 1977 and concluded in 2005, is loved by adults and children alike.

Attendees­ — from young enthusiasts barely old enough to wield their own lightsabers to older fans who fell in love with the original trilogy in theaters — came to immerse themselves in the epic tale.

Original set pieces on display from George Lucas’ Skywalker Ranch included the infamous bust of Han Solo frozen in carbonite, Ewok costumes and wardrobe pieces for Natalie Portman’s Padmé Amidala.

As the man behind the memorable voice of C-3PO in all six movies, Anthony Daniels narrated the performance.

Daniels embodied the enthusiasm and love for the series felt by millions of fans, periodically revealing a gold vest — reminiscent of the droid’s casing — under his formal jacket while seamlessly easing in and out of impersonations of his character.

The light-hearted nature of the event was expressed both through the orchestra and the audience’s demeanor.

Before the iconic main theme was performed, the orchestra elicited laughs from the audience by playing the 20th Century Fox fanfare.

Later, women in the audience whistled at Harrison Ford’s famous response of “I know,” to Princess Leia’s declaration of love in Episode V.

Through a live performance of John Williams’ award-winning scores and the simultaneous high-quality projections of selected scenes, the performance had the effect of retelling the entire Star Wars saga.

Rather than showing the series’ most famous scenes chronologically, the two-hour performance was organized by theme, such as “DROIDS!” — an apparent favorite of Daniels.

Chronicling the demise of the Galactic Republic, the fall of Anakin Skywalker and the young jedi knight’s tragic romance with Padmé Amidala, the first half of the performance dealt mainly with events from the prequel trilogy.

After a 20-minute intermission, the show portrayed the events of the original trilogy, employing music and lights to highlight the strength of iconic rebels Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo and Wookiee sidekick Chewbacca.

Never was the poignancy and power of Williams’ music so apparent as in this performance. Played live, it became even more evident that the entire saga’s plot and emotion are sewn into its music.

Not only were the orchestra’s renditions performed exactly as they are heard throughout the movies, the high quality and dramatic nature of the live symphony heightened the experience.

The audience was transported by Williams’ instrumental and choir-based pieces, experiencing everything from the intense emotion that Anakin Skywalker feels as he is drawn to the dark side to the more playful and romantic aspects of the saga.

What are the chances that the symphony will soon be back in town? I’ll take Han Solo’s advice, and not consider the odds.

Contact the Arts Editor at arts.dth@gmail.com