The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise

The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise is a 9-act opera created in 1905 by Giorgio Lucassini, first performed in Cannes. It tells the story of a Sith Lord named Darth Plagueis.

Plot

Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith, so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life… He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying. The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural. He became so powerful… the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually, of course, he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, then his apprentice killed him in his sleep. Ironic. He could save others from death, but not himself.

Plagueis's apprentice, the villain of the play, in act 6

Reception

The Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise was received positively by critics, although most felt that the middle three acts of the opera were better than the others. Many modern critics consider it to be the first space opera, and it has gained a cult following on the internet in recent years.