In celebrating May the 4th I thought it appropriate to write a review for my ultimate nerdy pleasure: The Shakespearean Star Wars trilogy. As a massive Star Wars fan and an English teacher whose master’s area of research was teaching the Bard finding this years ago in a country town could be nothing less than the force. I only wish that one day I have the pleasure of seeing these performed on stage in all their glory, which might be a Kickstarter or go fund me project for the future.

A Respectful and Masterful Blend

The brainchild of Ian Doescher, this is an entertaining combination of Shakespeare and the Star Wars trilogy with a respectful homage to both creative sources. The events, characters and interactions remain faithful to the trilogy throughout all three books. Whether it is Luke’s youthful indignation at an overpriced passage in a ‘Verily, A New Hope’ to the scandalous Han Solo bating Princess Leia in tunnels on Hoth in ‘The Empire Striketh back‘ every iconic moment from films is covered in way that still invokes the source material and nostalgia for diehard fans. Beyond this the different structure of a Shakespearean text with soliloquies and asides allows for an exploration of character’s motivations and behaviour. This is expertly shown with the appearance of Obi Wan as he saves Luke from the Sand People musing on the path ahead and the possibility to redeem his own failings with Anakin to “save this old man’s soul”. Only the few pages later Doescher uses these same structures to explore the relationship between Vader and Governor Tarkin around an equally iconic scene aboard the Death Star. Later in the trilogy these elements reach their full potential to unpack Vader’s inner turmoil in ‘The Jedi Doth Return’ as he reflects on “The strangest feelings have been mine of late” before the events of the final act. In this way Doescher not only pays respect to George Lucas’s epic but also shows a high degree of respect and understanding of Shakespeare, which equally enhances one’s own reverence for the Bard’s methods.

A touch of Shakespearean comady

However, Doescher’s work is not all complexity and deep thinking as he channels Shakespeare’s passion for comedy into the trilogy. This is obvious throughout in the use of insults and word play but reach its heights similarly using some of those soliloquys and asides. My favourite is Artoo at the start of ‘A New Hope” which articulates a premeditated purpose behind his at times checky actions.

The golden droid has been a friend, ‘tis true,

And yet I wish to still his prating tongue!

An imp, he calleth me? I’ll be reveng’d,

And merry pranks aplenty I shall play

Upon this pompous droid C-3PO!

Yet not in language shall my pranks be done:

Around both humans and droids I must

Be seen to make such errant beeps and squeaks

That they shall think me simple.

Not only is this a highly entertaining perspective to carry through the rest of trilogy and see every interaction with C-3PO from the point of view of a deliberate act but it once again shows Doescher’s knowledge of the bard as it echoes a similar element of “Hamlet” where he plans to pretend madness. Another classic moment is Luke’s discovery that Leia is his sister as the preceding soliloquy has him contemplate those three kisses which “The last of these more passionate than e’er a sister should upon her sib bestow” a point that has always been a fascination with most Star Wars fans. Over the integrity the trilogy is dotted with these moments and gems to grab and entertain fans like me.

Overall, if you’re anywhere near as big a Star Wars fan as I am you must find a copy of “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars Trilogy” it is truly something that will hugely entertain. Beyond this it is a testament to Doescher’s skill as a writer to blend these two different worlds as Timothy Zahn says it really is “The bard at his finest”.