Without scenery, costumes, props (not a lit sabre or steering apparatus), Charles Ross summons audience imaginations. If they have seen any or all of the "Star Wars Trilogy," he evokes their memories of those films as well. In fact, without knowledge of these movies, Ross' performance must seem an exercise in sound and fury. But for
"SW" aficionados, his musical intro to the film -- whose title is projected upstage in backward tilting white letters on black -- is an overture to a classical symphony.
Just about everything else makes the audience laugh. It could be Ross' take on the characters: Luke Skywalker whines, for instance. Or the characters themselves: Obi-Wan Kenobe is a "force"-ful re-assurer. Or the scenes he selects to replicate, like Luke meeting Yoda, Obi-Wan's leaving, Darth Vader revealing himself as Luke's father or, in his dying moments, as a white man with a black man's voice.
What generates suspense? Mostly, how is Ross going to do Jabba the Hut? For those with less keen memories: How will he show Han ("Free us or die") and the rest escaping imprisonment? For all: How will he handle the romance?
Ross achieves greatest effects from his full range of sounds and miming. Body movement is varied and intense, more so than facial expressions. He's weakest at diction, too often letting lines drop off in volume. Are two shows a day too tiring? Or would he rather be doing his newer show, interpreting "The Lord of the Rings"?
Admirers of the films loved the performance I attended. So did the youngsters who are obviously "Star Wars" fans and were afterward heartily imitating the imitator. For such, it's a fine holiday present.
