Photo and Star Wars post of the Day
Way back in March, it was announced that Star Wars in Concert would be coming to Calgary. Coworker Phil and I had planned to go together, but he eventually had to decide not to go, what with his wife's health issues. I didn't get around to buying my ticket until Wednesday.
I wasn't sure about whether or not I could bring my Jedi camera, aka a Canon Rebel. My ticket said "no flash photography" and nothing on the event website or the Saddledome website said anything about cameras. So I brought it.
I took the C-Train there, not wanting to deal with Stampede Park traffic or cost of parking. When I switched trains downtown, I knew at least one other person was going to the same event.
At the Saddledome, there signs saying no video recording equipment or professional cameras. The Jedi camera does not take video and I'm an amateur photographer. I actually got there 5 minutes before the doors opened. Which was good because then I had lots of time to look at the exhibits, before the crowds started to appear.
And what fun exhibits there were!
I resigned myself early to taking pictures with other peoples' kids in them. Partly because there were so many parents directing their kids to stand in front of stuff, and partly because I like the people watching.
:-)
There were a lot of people dressed in costumes. I don't know if any of them were paid to do so, or just did. I recognized the Obi-Wan Kenobi from Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo in April. Some of the more professionally costumed people posed for photos.
:-)
I got a little sad that I'm no longer on speaking terms with Amy, because her kids would have liked this. I used to take them to different events and we'd have fun together.
Anyways. There was also an actual concert. :-) It took me some time to find the "club" seating. I finally did, and took some pictures of the venue before eating the snack I'd brought and looking at the program I bought. I also watched people slowly file in, with many lightsabres.
The show is about to start.
This is when an usher approached me and informed me that my Rebel camera is not allowed in the building, because it's so big. Specifically, it has a detachable lens, which makes it a "professional" camera. She said if I had a smaller camera, I could use that one.
Never mind that people all around me clearly had video recording on their cell phones and were recording video which was strictly forbidden. I was the one who had to put away her fancy camera.
I'd read enough on the websites and the program to know the basics. The music of all six Star Wars films would be played by an actual orchestra. John Williams had a hand in developing the show, but would not be there to conduct. There would be cool lights while clips from the film played. Anthony Daniels, who played C-3PO, would be narrating and introducing film clips.
I'd skimmed while reading up on the show, so I'd assumed that Anthony Daniels wouldn't actually be there, he'd be narrating via clips on screen. I'm delighted to say that I was wrong. Anthony freaking Daniels was there. Dressed in dapper black (with a gold vest), he was an enthusiastic and entertaining narrator. I liked that while a sequence was playing, he'd go sit at the side of the stage and watch just like anyone else.
So the music was fantastic. The clips were good. They had most of the good parts from Episodes 1-3, with minimal Jar Jar. Many of the clip sequences were themed - "Droids". "A Narrow Escape". The pod race from Episode 1.
The underlying theme was Anakin's growth as a Jedi, and his fall to the Dark Side, and his redemption.
Two crappy cellphone photos:
And yet - I kind of felt that it could have been more. I think the clips were so engrossing that I didn't really pay full attention to the actual orchestra. They sounded fantastic. During the overture and the encore, there were cameras just on the musicians, and I really enjoyed those parts - just watching them play.
Plus it was over in two hours - including a 20 minute intermission. Much too short. But everyone was good and the crowd loved it. Very easy to give a standing ovation with my fellow fans.
And since everyone was standing and applauding at the end, before Anthony freaking Daniels asked if we wanted an encore - I decided to be a rebel and whip out my Rebel. If I got asked to leave, well, it was the end of the show!
Anthony freaking Daniels is in the lower left of this photo, standing just to the left of the silver conductor's podium.
