The Force is One with this One

January 20, 2005 10:23 AM

The One Man Star Wars Trilogy is a one-hour, high energy, nonstop blast through the first three Star Wars films. The catch is, there's only one cast member. Charles Ross, the writer and solo performer, spent too much of his childhood in a galaxy far, far away- adulthood has been similar. Ross plays all the characters, recreates the effects, sings the music, flies the ships, and fights both sides of the battles.
I'm not so sure I want to see him playing Carrie Fisher, especially in E6
posted by Hands of Manos (21 comments total)

How does he find the time to also do his One Man Lord of the Rings?
posted by LeLiLo at 10:31 AM on January 20, 2005

You don't think he's that busy do you??
posted by j.p. Hung at 10:34 AM on January 20, 2005

If his show is anywhere near as good as his website, I can't wait!
posted by papercake at 10:40 AM on January 20, 2005

Slashdotfilter (not that there's anything wrong with that).
posted by killdevil at 10:44 AM on January 20, 2005

Charlie's show is great. Lots of sound effects (by him, of course), double entendres, and physical action (with elbow pads). TJ Dawe, his director, delivers a hilarious intellectual, deadpan monologue in a separate show, if you get the chance to see him, also.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 10:52 AM on January 20, 2005

He's good, switching characters that fast is hard. He needs to wear a longer shirt though.
posted by banished at 11:04 AM on January 20, 2005

I saw this guy at Calgary's Solocentric Theatre Festival last year (April 2004) and he was fucking awesome. I shit you not, the whole thing is truly rivetting and absolutely worth the ticket price, and more. He uses no props, whistles out the R2D2 lines, runs around the stage like a maniac and in general is a true believer who completely brings every random-crucial-moment-nobody-loved-but-you to life. I thought my brother was going to pop an eyeball, he was laughing so hard. Anyone who gives half a crap about Star Wars deserves to have this guy's show in their catelogue of memories. You walk out of there wishing like hell you'd thought of it yourself and were now, yourself, making your living going around the world to fringe festivals and weekend gigs talking about Star Wars (and now LoTR) 24/7. When I was in Edinburgh this summer the Fringe paper had a photo of Charles Ross with Sir Ian McKellen, taken just after one of his first One Man LoTR shows, both of them beaming like teenagers on ether. Rock on, Ross!

And no, I don't know this guy personally. I was just this impressed.
posted by Mrs Hilksom at 11:05 AM on January 20, 2005

Wasn't there a Star Wars stage show in Reign of Fire? You know, not that I saw it, or anything.
posted by uncleozzy at 11:13 AM on January 20, 2005

Don't sit in the front row. The explosions will cover you with spit.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 11:17 AM on January 20, 2005

yes.
hey, I'm in a small city in China and am quickly exhausting the corner video rental store
posted by geekyguy at 11:22 AM on January 20, 2005

I've done this with Trek episodes, while drunk (of course), with my friends. One group of us can (and has) performed the entirety of Monty Python's Holy Grail.

Yes, I'm a freakish hypernerd, but clearly I'm not alone. And that makes me feel much better.

Now, to turn this skill into CASH!! :D
posted by zoogleplex at 11:27 AM on January 20, 2005

Xueexueg took me to this for my birthday, hence the review on Slashdot. This guy was very good indeed. I thought it would be embarassing but it was really good.
posted by scazza at 11:33 AM on January 20, 2005

However, I forgot about the wonderful slander in the Slashdot comments about me that made me so mad when that review was first posted. I shouldn't have even ventured into the comments. Otherwise, Xueexueg's review is really good.
posted by scazza at 11:38 AM on January 20, 2005

I saw him do his one-man Lord of the Rings trilogy this summer. All three movies in one hour -- he drank about 10 bottles of water over the course of it. Funniest thing I've ever seen.
posted by krunk at 11:42 AM on January 20, 2005

This is the most beautiful thing I can imagine.

But...Canada so FAR. Car poorly made.

Sad.
posted by dougunderscorenelso at 12:06 PM on January 20, 2005

ot: Don't be dissin' Reign of Fire, man. Shades of Reptilicus...
posted by lodurr at 1:05 PM on January 20, 2005

I've done this with Trek episodes, while drunk (of course), with my friends. One group of us can (and has) performed the entirety of Monty Python's Holy Grail.

Yes, I'm a freakish hypernerd, but clearly I'm not alone. And that makes me feel much better.

Yeah, there's you, Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, and Hank Azaria. Should be a heck of a show.
posted by graymouser at 1:13 PM on January 20, 2005

How has this guy not been sued yet. In Chicago back in the mid 90s there was an awesome show running called Jedi! A Musical Tour De Force, and they received a cease and desist from Lucas.

How long does this guy have now, do you think?
posted by OhPuhLeez at 3:19 PM on January 20, 2005

I once wanted to put together a One Man Monty Python, but ran out of lupines.

I once wanted to put together a One Man Star Wars, but my saber wouldn't light.

I once wanted to put together a One Man Princess Bride, but found it inconceivable.

I once wanted to put together a One Man Titanic, but couldn't get my head above water.

I once wanted to put together a One Man Assault On Precinct 13, but I got shot down.

I once wanted to put together a One Man Boogie Nights, but couldn't get it down.

I once wanted to put together a One Man Fear Factor, but couldn't keep it down.

I once wanted to put together a One Man Alien trilogy, but couldn't get my Sigourney Weaver down, and if you've ever had your weave sigourneyed, you know how painful that can be.

Thank you! Tip your waitresses! I'll be here all week!
posted by ZachsMind at 3:59 PM on January 20, 2005

I think he'll be ok, OhPuhLeez, he's performing it at Lucas's official launch event for Episode III.
posted by Songdog at 7:55 PM on January 20, 2005

Based on the clips...it's not very funny. Its just some guy arseing about.
posted by Orange Goblin at 7:57 AM on January 21, 2005