The Force is strong with this one

A long time ago (2001) in a galaxy far, far away (Canada), a young "Star Wars" fanatic and struggling actor named Charlie Ross wrote a one-man comedy show.

His goal? To boil down into a mere hour the first "Star Wars" trilogy. Ross came up with this stunty piece to generate the one thing that eludes most performers: work.

Cut to 2010, and the experiment has paid off. Since first premiering his "One-Man Star Wars Trilogy "on the Canadian fringe theatre circuit, Ross has performed it more than 1,200 times, around the world from New York to Dubai.

Charleston's Theatre 99 marks Ross's latest stop, where he will bring his show for a fourth time to Piccolo Spoleto audiences through June 12.

"I had no idea this was going to keep going," Ross said of his creation, a show he characterizes as a send-up and celebration of the beloved trilogy. "Not that I thought it would dry up. But let's face it, the world can barely pay attention to a TV show for more than one season. I assumed theater always had it worse."

Ross, who coincidentally resembles a young Mark Hamill (sandy blonde hair parted at the center and big blue eyes), said he credits his director T.J. Dawe for forcing him to transfer his love of "Star Wars" into a solo theatrical enterprise.

Dawe, a fellow "Star Wars" fan, studied acting alongside Ross at the University of Victoria. He remembers Ross being a one-man show from the moment they met, often telling stories to his friends in full pantomime mode.

When Ross approached Dawe to direct his "Trilogy" after graduation, Dawe said it was a no brainer.

"His (Ross') love of 'Star Wars' even usurps my own. Deep down I hoped the world would catch on to it, the way they now have. The success of it has been the most delightful prize for the both of us."

It no doubt helps that the show boasts the approval of the master Jedi himself, George Lucas. When Ross first took his show on a U.S. tour, he received a glowing review in The Chicago Tribune.

The positive press caught the attention of Lucasfilm's Fan Relations department, whose reps approached Ross.

They granted him rights to legally use the "Star Wars" logo and invited Ross to appear at official fan conventions. "They (Lucasfilm) look at me as a sort of living, breathing action figure," Ross said.

Though he's spent the last decade touring his show with the support of Lucas and co., don't think Ross has let his success get to his head.

"It's the films," Ross said of the reason behind the show's enduring appeal. "I'm totally happy saying it's the films. If it became purely about myself, I think I'd become one of those totally crazy egomaniacs that believe in their own press, that have delusions of grandeur. I know why the show is successful. It has something to do with me. But it has way more to with the franchise."

Co-artistic director of Theatre 99 Brandy Sullivan, who said Ross' "Trilogy" is the company's closest bet to a security blanket, sees it otherwise.

"If the show was by someone else, it wouldn't have lasted this long," she said. "It's not just a built-in hit because of 'Star Wars.' It's special because it's him."