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The opening night of the Youth Theatre Company's
production of Robin Hood brought a jolly crowd of many generations
to the Theatre Royal.
Toddlers and grandmas flocked to the theatre
to watch family members and friends participate in this performance
of the classic English tale.
As the lights dimmed and the theatre quietened
down, the band started up with a typical Robin Hood-type tune.
The curtain lifted to reveal a stage full
of children and teenagers dressed in traditional, medieval
peasants' clothes.
They then proceeded to entertain us with
a May Day celebratory song and dance.
The choreographed movements were very similar
to that of the infamous Macarena - the dance of those dreaded
school discos.
This gave it a modern and amusing touch and
the audience had something to relate to.
The opening provided a lively and interesting
atmosphere that would last throughout the production.
The story of Robin Hood is presented as a
myth to the peasants of Nottingham yet they refuse to believe
this.
The traditional story of Robin Hood unravels
with very few adjustments from the original plot.
We met our notorious villains: the sheriff
of Nottingham and his wife, Lady Joanna, who was very good.
She had enough pomposity and the right looks
for the part. The nasty and rather whiny Prince John is, of
course, present and the corrupt, naughty nuns who flash their
legs to reveal spangley stockings.
All these characters were good to laugh at
as well as boo - it gave the production a pantomime feel at
times, but made it entertaining.
Of course, Robin Hood is a serious and moral
story in places, raising issues of equality, poverty and social
status.
I felt it captured all aspects well, but
had a light-hearted comedic feel overall.
The production wouldn't have been complete
without our leading lady and man.
Maid Marion, played by Jenni Woodward, was
feisty and strong and a compelling character to watch.
Jenni's performance was very good and her
vocals were impressive too.
Harry Burt played Robin well: he seemed gallant
yet maybe not as charming as I imagine Robin Hood to be.
Will Scarlet, Robin's right-hand man, shone
throughout. He charmed the audience and during the interval
I overheard one of the audience say they couldn't take their
eyes off him. He obviously captivated us all!
The production as a whole felt authentic
with its traditional costumes and original plot.
The set was a picturesque English backdrop
with a magical feel to it. The props were minimal, which was
no bad thing as the size of the cast meant there was little
room for extra objects on stage.
At first glance this could be your average
version of Robin Hood - mostly appealing to six to ten-year-olds
- but there were extra touches and little jokes, such as the
corruption of the nuns, that widened its appeal.
Overall it was an entertaining evening thanks
to the well-crafted script of David Lambert, the music of
Andrew Fletcher and an excellent cast.
The Adventures Of Robin Hood, a musical romp
through English legend, runs at the Norwich Theatre Royal
until Saturday 31 July, 2004.
For tickets call the Theatre Royal box office on 01603
630000. If
you want to get involved with the arts courses call 01603
598600.
Backstage
with the cast of Robin Hood
Archive: Robinson Crusoe
Archive:
Oklahoma
Archive:
Limelight in Gorleston
Archive: Matthew
Bourne masterclass
If this feature has sparked your interest
in performance art, you've loads of choice in Norfolk. Check
out these websites.
Norwich
Theatre Royal
Maddermarket
Youth Theatre
Norfolk Youth Music
Theatre
Sherwood
Forest Country Park
BBC
History: Robin Hood
The
Legend of Robin Hood
The BBC is not responsible
for the content of external websites
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ROSIE
HIGHAM-STAINTON 
