BANNED for years from helping to promote Star Wars for fear it would spoil the illusion of the movies, it is long time for Anthony Daniels to step out from behind the gold suit and receive his applause.

The “soul of C-3PO”, as he was introduced, was the most charismatic element of a show that didn’t seem to quite know what it wanted to be.

While it was a little disconcerting to hear the droid’s distinctive tones emitted from the mouth of a mere human, Daniels gave it his all, theatrically relating the basic story of the six films while a live orchestra performed John William’s memorable score.

Montages of footage from the six films were played on a three storey-tall LED screen above the musicians, taking the audience through the different themes, characters and main plot lines.

It was Star Wars by numbers – perhaps entertaining enough for the kids, but a bit bemusing for die-hard fans hoping to be rewarded with something extra special. Perhaps reflecting the quality of the films, the first half, covering Anakin Skywalker’s transition to the dark side, felt a bit lacklustre. The images were pretty enough but presenting the story in this way stripped it of its suspense.

The format worked best in scenes where the emotion or action portrayed needed no subtleties for success – the boy Anakin’s pod race to an energetic soundtrack and a sequence about the growing love between he and Padme accompanied by mourning woodwind.

The second half was much more entertaining, with more powerful music and footage soaked in nostalgia.

Yet favourite scenes from the original three movies were disconcertingly interrupted by those from the prequels in a way that seemed to make no sense.

But it’s hard not to be impressed by Williams’s score and, during the encore, when the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra played unaccompanied by film clips, it demonstrated its power.