The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood
The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood
By Mary Lynn Dobson
Directed by Larry Stallings
Starring Alex Carroll, Marcie Schwalm, David Goldstone, and Marty Radner
Center Players at the JCC, Maitland Fla.</strong>
Once upon a time in that Marxist Leninist paradise called Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood (Carroll) runs a wealth redistribution racket. One day, he grabbing the chest of Maid Marian (Schwalm) for redistribution it to the unseen but heavily taxed poor. True, the chest was the one full of jewels, but the effect on the Prince (Radner) was immediate: no diamond encrusted weather vane for him. But that’s a minor setback, his real game is parleying a little know aspect of English common law into a grab for the throne. He just needs to get one more vote, and Maid Marian is his target demographic and her marriage to the evil Sherriff of Nottingham (Goldstone) his campaign strategy. All he needs is an archery tournament, a few frames of bowling and a narrative device like Townsman David Strauss.
This Robin Hood is a broad comedy with little respect for the fourth wall, or even the second or third wall. It’s aimed at a younger audience, but the author kept the adults in mind and there are plenty of jokes, even if they didn’t all connect in the dress rehearsal I saw. Townsman Strauss did a great job playing himself as Carroll huzzah’d his way through a voyage of self aggrandization. Ms. Schwalm got the best jokes and the best curses, wishing everyone a dermatological nightmare ranging from scabies to uncomfortable genital itching. Her Lady-In-Waiting (Amy Schwartz) is one of the best screamers in town: people on stage knowingly plugged their ears while the audience pushed their chairs back a foot or two every time she let one go. Rader’s prince frothed impotently, but the Goldstone as the Sherriff seemed flat as the bad guy and never seemed to click into the on-stage silliness. The set for this show was impressive, local artist and scenic maven Bonnie Sprung gave the show four large, rotating columns with psychedelic forests and Cinderella castle interiors. The cast simply danced them around to change scenes, and most of the time they came out in the correct orientation. Fun and frothy, this is a show that you can take the kids to and not worry about fidgeting yourself.
For more information on the Center Players, visit Http://OrlandoJCC.org/
