Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher *****

Imagine Star Wars in the 16th century…not the setting for the story, but the setting for the production…no 20th-century special effects. Shakespeare’s Star Wars by Ian Doescher successful uses the production techniques of Tudor times. The result is a play which could and should be staged.

The obvious Shakespearean techniques of iambic pentameter free verse and clever wordplay are just the beginning of adapting Star Wars to the stage.

When Luke asks to leave Tatooine, his father replies, “Wilt thou here in the desert yet desert?”

Leia denigrates Han with, “A mercenary with no mercy, he.”

The author makes use of asides to forwarding the plot, remembering that many believe that Shakespearean actors just stood on the stage and recited their lines. A few of many asides…

R2-D2 explains: “If I go not with him, my foolishness / Shall render no one service. Thus, I beep.”

Later C3-PO explains, “Now if I can convince the human here / To purchase R2 too, along with me, / So shall I win the day!”

Luke evaluates C3-PO, “This droid, I see, is wont to prattle on, / Belike his mouth is faster than his mind.”

The chorus handles many of the films long cinematic shots and special effects…

“The fast landspeeder o’er the desert flies— / They go to find the errant droid R2.”

“Now mark thee well, good viewer, what you see, / Such varied characters are on display! / For never hath there been such company / As in Mos Eisley gathers day be day. / The creatures gather ‘round the central bar / While hammerheads and horned monsters talk, / A band compos’d of aliens bizarre: / This is the great cantina—thou may’st gawk!”

The transition to light speed... “Han grapseth quick the console in his hand, / Then suddenly the ship is bath’d in light. / With a roar of the engine—noise profound and grand— / The great Millenn’um Falcon takes her flight.”

Another fun part is Greedo speaking his alien pidgin in iambic pentameter, “Na Jabba w’nin chee kosthpa mutishan’ / Turying ye wanya yoshah. Heh heh heh!”

If you wonder about the scenes which pit spaceships against each other, an illustration shows stick puppets of the Millenium Falcon, Tie Fighters, and X-Wings.

If you like Elizabethan drama, this is the script for you with the dazzling special effects of the time, including asides, choruses, and puppets.