Almost everyone knows the gist of the first Star Wars movie: the rebel ship is boarded by tyrannical overlord Darth Vader and simple farm boy Luke Skywalker is joined by allies Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2 D2 and others to rescue rebel leader Princess Leia.
Now fans can enjoy a homage to the classic 1977 film with Between Shifts Theatre's satirical twist in the musical production The Most Excellent Adventures of Darth and Luke (May the Farce be with You).
"The story is totally based on the original Star Wars movie A New Hope and we just took that story line and did a play of that, so if you've seen the original you'll be familiar with it," said director Liz Gruber.
"Everybody would enjoy it - we're totally making fun of Star Wars."
The production's inclusion of the term "3D" is a clue to what's expected from the crowds.
"The actors spend a lot of time incorporating the audience and drawing them right in - we have a lot that happens right out in the audience," said Gruber.
"We bring the audience into the play and include them so much because it is a farce."
Local playwright Thomas Hunt worked diligently for three months to come up with the perfect comedic lines to compliment the plot.
And now that the parts are cast and three weeks of rehearsals have gone by, Gruber said they must have done something right.
"If I've done anything right, I casted exactly right - I've casted exactly the right actors for the right parts," she said.
"It's funny because I cast quite a few actors I've never worked with before."
Gruber said she thinks it was the Star Wars theme that brought a lot of new actors out of the woodwork.
"I think it was Star Wars itself, because when we were advertising for actors to come and audition, we said it was a Star Wars play and I think that generated a lot of interest from new people, young people," she said.
"The amount of young kids I had come was incredible - everyone loves Star Wars and everyone's familiar with it."
One of her audition questions was to ask the prospective cast members whether they were passionate about the theme, and if they said yes, they were a shoe-in.
Gruber also brought her own talent with the written word into the production. Since the original Star Wars has no musical interludes, Gruber rewrote the lyrics to familiar tunes such as Rebel Yell by Billy Idol to propel the story along.
"When people leave, they'll have the music stuck in their heads and be singing the new lyrics, not the real ones," she laughed.
The Most Excellent Adventures of Darth and Luke (May the Farce be with You) debuts at Eagle Eye Theatre on Nov. 17 and, all jokes aside, Gruber said the production is fit for all ages.
"It's a family friendly show right before the holiday season the whole family will enjoy," said Gruber.
The production runs Wednesday through Saturday for two weeks (Nov. 17 to 20 and Nov. 24 to 27). Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for seniors and students and are available at Billie's Bouquet, the Adventure centre and at the door. Wednesday's tickets are two for one.
