“Sherwood – The Adventures of Robin Hood” is a Heart-felt...
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Robin Hood and his Merry Men are on stage at The Rep ’til April 13
“Sherwood – The Adventures of Robin Hood”
is a Heart-felt Raucous Romp Through the Forest
by Pat Lindsey
The final show of The Rep’s 2024-2025 season is a family-friendly swashbuckling romp through Sherwood Forest in the town of Nottingham, England with Robin Hood and his band of “Merry Men.” Ken Ludwig’s “Sherwood – The Adventures of Robin Hood,” under the direction of Kate Bergstrom, will transport an audience of all ages back to 1194 when the Saxons were oppressed by the greedy Normans and the hero, Robin Hood, became an advocate for the poor.
The stage set is literally a gigantic page out of a fairytale book flanked by a huge floor-to-ceiling tree. The story begins on a somber note with Robin Hood (Louis Reyes McWilliams) waiting to be hanged. It immediately flashes back to Robin of Locksley’s birth into nobility and wealth and retells the story of his life. Friar Tuck (Michael James Reed), narrates much of the story.
Robin’s first act of heroism is to save the lives of a miller and his daughter, Deorwynn (Fabiola Cabrera-Davila). This accomplishment sets Robin on the path to help the poor and oppressed people of England, much to the disdain of Prince John (Eric Dean White), Sir Guy of Gisbourne (Matt Lytle), and his henchman Sheriff of Nottingham (David Weynand). While Robin continues on his mission to help the poor and oppressed, he reunites with his childhood friend Maid Marian (Jayne McLendon) and becomes friends with Friar Tuck (Reed) and Little John (CB Brown), who become his band of “Merry Men.”
This lighthearted comedy is painted with shades of Monty Python, but it’s not as wacky as Mel Brooks’s “Robin Hood: Men in Tights.” It’s also not filled with continuous humor, but it’s certainly funny in spots throughout. To ensure that the audience applauds or boos in the appropriate places, Little John (Brown) holds up signs in Act II. Audience participation adds to the fun. I got a kick out of watching some of the actors run around the small stage with split second timing, often playing multiple roles. When they participated in an archery tournament from the aisles of the theater, it was fascinating to watch them pull back their bows and cleverly land their arrows into a target held by Alize (Oriana Lada) on stage. Oriana Lada brought a lot of energy and levity to this tale while playing more roles than anyone else.
We can’t have a story of someone’s life without having a little love in it. More than one romance blooms during the show, but the main one is between Robin and Maid Marian. Marian (McLendon) had been educated in France and returned to England confident and Robin’s equal in every way, including archery. She is as brave as any man and becomes Robin’s partner in his mission to give to the poor.
The period costumes by Dottie Marshall Englis are clever and colorful. The music by Colin McLaughlin is fun and folksy. DeAnte’ Bryant, who plays the role of Troubadour, appears on stage from time to time strumming his guitar. There are no big dance numbers, but two choreographers, Rachel Lee Flesher and Zachariah Payne, were necessary to create the fight scenes and intimacy in this show. The costumes, music, choreography, whimsical set, and outstanding acting are all enhanced by the sound and lighting by Amanda Werre and Christina Watanabe.
Seeing “Sherwood – The Adventures of Robin Hood” is a fun way to conclude a fantastic season of live theatre at The Rep. It will be be presented at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis now until April 13, 2025. For more information, go to repstl.org.
Photos: Robin Hood and his band of “Merry Men.” in Ken Ludwig’s “Sherwood – The Adventures of Robin Hood,” Robin and Maid Marian in a little play dueling. Robin and Little John are the leaders of the Merrymen
