As Valentine's Day approached, I didn't want to forget my daughter. So, last Saturday night I treated her to a rare spectacle. The Erie Philharmonic in Erie, Pennsylvania, performed the entire score of Return of the Jedi live with the film.
We were both very excited to share the experience of seeing the film with a live orchestra. Though for Brooklyn, my daughter, it was extra special. She first wanted to find the right dress. After scanning the internet, she went with a Rey dress, the popular character from the sequel trilogy. We asked if she wanted to go with a Princess Leia dress, but she went with Rey.
Before the concert, she posed with a Scout Trooper from the 501st Legion and Jawa. She was very enthused that the Jawa was a girl and told the scout trooper as such.
As the film and concert gto underway, she was very excited and paid attention the whole time, asking me questions and laughing at funny parts of C-3PO as he was on Jabba's sail barge. When Yoda passed away, she wondered if he was going to heaven when he disappeared. She enjoyed hearing the music and was really up on the edge of her seat. None of this compared to the excitement for one particular part of the film:
Brooklyn was most excited once the Ewoks came onto screen.
Her favorite scene in the movie was the appearance of Wicket. She has always loved the Ewoks, and seeing her happiness when Wicket first meets and helps save Princess Leia was priceless. She thoroughly enjoyed each scene featuring the Ewoks and giggled anytime they had a comedic moment. Along with the rest of the audience, she cheered as they began to fight back against the Empire on Endor.
I would have liked her to react when Wedge Antilles came on screen and was one of the pilots who helped destroy the Death Star, but that is wishful thinking.
As the movie ended, the orchestra played the whole credits, and Brooklyn clapped the whole time with the rest of the audience. As we were leaving, she moved her arms like she was conducting the orchestra.
The next morning, she told my wife about when Wicket meets Princess Leia and showed her the trading card that the member of the 501st gave her. For me, it brought out one of my favorite parts of the franchise. Star Wars is meant to be shared; it's meant to be passed down to the next generation because the story is timeless.
Thanks to events like the one she and I attended and the work Disney continues to do so I can keep having these special moments with my daughter.