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> Catch Charlie Ross take on 40 characters from the Star Wars trilogy in his one-man tribute show in Kuala Lumpur this April 21
IF YOU are a fan of Star Wars and want to enjoy the ride of a lifetime to a ‘galaxy, far, far, away’, then go watch Charlie Ross in action as he performs his One-Man Star Wars Trilogy show at the HGH Convention Centre Kuala Lumpur on April 21, and at The Wembley’s – A St Giles Hotel in Penang on April 22.
Organised by Milestone Production to support the United Nation’s International Day of Families, this criticallyacclaimed Broadway comedy will have the Canadian actor parodying some of those iconic moments in the first original trilogy series ( Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi).
Ross will sing, fly ships and fight lightsaber battles as he condenses the entire Star Wars saga into a 75-minute show.
The actor, who recently watched the trilogy for the 400th time, will mimic iconic characters like Chewbacca, Jabba the Hutt, Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, and then blow up the Death Star as well as reveal Vader’s true identity.
One-Man Star Wars Trilogy has been performed across the globe for the past 16 years. And Ross has even received an endorsement from Star Wars creator George Lucas for his production.
In an email interview, Ross said he was just three years old when he saw the first Star Wars (now called A New Hope) back in 1978.
“I remember that it was the second film that I ever saw in an actual cinema,” said Ross, recalling the experience.
“I was riveted, I didn’t want it to end. It set the bar very high. I recall thinking that every film must be the same – like a roller-coaster ride – and then, I discovered over the years (with a few exceptions) that Star Wars was exceptional. Not the norm.”
It took a while for One Man Star Wars Trilogy to take shape.
“I [originally] wrote a script for three actors, but when I gave the script to my intended co-stars, they didn’t understand what I was trying to achieve.
“When I read it out loud for them, they said that I should do it myself, alone, that it worked perfectly as a solo piece of theatre.
“I rehearsed it, tried it out in front of an audience, and kept on performing whenever and wherever I could.”
When asked how he managed to condense three movies into 75 minutes, Ross explained: “From memory. I also played the soundtrack, in order to prompt my memory.
“I sat at a computer and wrote what I could remember and imagined telling the story of Star Wars [using] lines from the films.” In reference to Potted Potter – a two-man show that condensed all seven Harry Potter books – which was staged in Kuala Lumpur last year, Ross said: “I remember meeting the Potted Potter guys in Edinburgh. “I had been doing my Star Wars show already for about six years at the time. “Potted Potter is based on the novels, with film characterisations. “My show wasn’t being derivative; I was simply retelling the original Star Wars trilogy films. That’s the trilogy I grew up with.
“Maybe one day, I’ll do a grand one-man Star Wars retrospective production – I’ll give you credit for the concept.”
Playing 40 different characters is no mean feat. When asked who is his favourite, Ross said: “The Emperor, because he’s such a rotten jerk.”
So will there be a sequel to his One Man Star Wars Trilogy? Ross replied: “One-Man Lord of the Rings and One-Man Dark Knight – A Batman Parody. I have a trilogy of trilogies.”
OneMan Star Wars Trilogy, Atlantis, by The Hollywood Reporter