The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is a joyous feast
The cast of Carousel Theatre's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood includes (from left) Julie McIsaac as Will Scarlett, Lawrence Haegert as Robin Hood, Sean Oliver as Alan of Dale, and Joshua Reynolds as Little John.
Adapted by Jeff Pitcher. Directed by Stephen Drover. A Carousel Theatre production at the Waterfront Theatre on Saturday, November 28. Continues until January 2
Has there ever been a better time to steal from the rich and give to the poor? The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is a joyous feast of laughter, liveliness, and justice.
Has there ever been a better time to steal from the rich and give to the poor? The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is a joyous feast of laughter, liveliness, and justice.
Robin Hood is the leader of a band of outlaws who live in Sherwood Forest, redistributing wealth with the help of their trusty bows and arrows. The Sheriff of Nottingham wants them stopped, but he’s distracted by his romantic pursuit of Maid Marian, a defiant noblewoman. Jeff Pitcher’s high-spirited adaptation retains the legend’s familiar elements while highlighting their contemporary relevance.
Director Stephen Drover has crafted a crisply paced production that is every bit as merry as it is adventurous: his superb actors are equally adept at sword fights and silly stage business.
Lawrence Haegert is a lithe, cocky Robin Hood, a guy who clearly relishes the little theme that plays every time his name is uttered. Joshua Reynolds brings a confident integrity to Little John, the play’s moral centre. Genevieve Fleming’s Marian is feisty, though she moves somewhat stiffly. And Allan Zinyk works his loopy magic as the food-obsessed Friar Tuck.
But it’s the villains—ironically, those who hold legal and political power—who steal the show. Asthe Sheriff—who in every moment seems overcome by lust, whether for power, blood, or Marian—Josue Laboucane is wound up tighter than a drum. Ryan Beil makes Guy of Gisborne ridiculous with his every line and gesture, from his first entrance disguised as a deer to his long, simmering look of dismay at being forced to wear a dress. (Guy eventually relaxes into drag, in welcome contrast to the homophobia in a later scene of gender confusion between other characters—my only quibble with Pitcher’s script.) Beil’s crackerjack timing and deliciously textured characterization crank up the hilarity in an already very funny show.
Robin Hood also features outstanding design work. Al Frisk’s set, featuring an enormous tree that covers the back wall and castle staircases on either side, reinforces the play’s message of harmony with nature. Jeff Harrison lights it beautifully. Barbara Clayden provides sumptuous costumes, and Noah Drew’s sound design is witty and energetic. If you’re not feeling merry by that point, the show’s closing number will lift you right out of your seat.
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Comments
Although I know this production of Robin Hood is not a pantomime, one can almost see similarities between this Robin Hood and a traditional British Pantomime... but with more sophisticated adult humour.
The acting in this "theatre for youth" production was absolutely fantastic. Lawrence Haegert (Robin Hood) is an actor I'll be watching out for in the future as he is extremely likeable and makes the perfect 'hero'! Allan Zinyk (Friar Tuck) is downright hysterical in a low-key sort of way... his attention to detail is phenomenal. Of course, if you had seen Seussical the Musical, it was funny to see Horton's hat make an appearance and be used in this production. It's that kind of detail that might be over a child's head, but is so enjoyed by us theatre buffs. The hat is almost a trademark of a Zinyk character. Genevieve Fleming's Marian is every little girl's (and ok, surrounded by all these good looking male actors, every "over 30" girl's) dream to be the damsel in distress... although, she could definitely hold her own any day! Girls rule!! :D
As for the villains, how could you not be laughing out loud at their blunders and bad guy actions?? Josue and Guy had my friend and I almost falling out of our chairs... they were a combination of so silly and so much fun.
And then there was Julie McIsaac and Sean Oliver, who were wonderful (that's all I'm going to say because I don't want to give anything away here). Laura Jaye, and her "balls" and little Joshua Reynolds (who's not so little) have a wonderful rapport together.
I would not only recommend this show to anyone who has access to children, but for every adult and their adult friends who would like to just be entertained by this wacky, wonderful cast. As I was leaving the theatre, I mentioned to the "girl and guy behind the counter" that I would love to see this very same cast do a midnight showing of this show... with a bunch of improv thrown in just for fun. The cast is that talented that they could handle it... but there might be problems with too many of us "over the hill" fogies gasping for breath with no chance to stop laughing if that were to happen.
10 Thumbs up!! Go see this show!! :)
And it's true, both the antogonists were AMAZING in it! Guy and the Sheriff FTW