The life of the man known as Robin Hood is lost in the mists of time and legend, but in the 700 or so years that Robin Hood has been a popular character in English fiction, two things about the story have become gospel.
One is that Robin Hood is a man of noble character who takes from the rich and gives to the overtaxed poor.
The other is that the Sheriff of Nottingham is a bad, bad man.
‘MERRY MEN’
Presented by Leeward Community College:
>> Where: Leeward Theatre
>> When: 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5 and 6; 2 p.m. Jan. 31 and Feb. 7
>> Cost: $15-$25
>> Info: LTheatre@hawaii.edu or 455-0381
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Director/playwright Ashley DeMoville has turned those story elements sideways, and maybe upside down, with her production of “Merry Men” at the Leeward Community College Theatre.
“‘Merry Men’ is an action-packed show for all ages with songs, sword fighting, archery and lots of comedy,” DeMoville said. “Even if kids have no idea who Robin Hood is, they can still understand the basic character motivations and the idea of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. You don’t need to have any prior experience with Robin Hood to have fun with this play.”
DeMoville approaches the familiar story from an original direction. Prince John, de facto king of England while his older brother, King Richard the Lionheart, is away on crusade, decrees that Maid Marian is to marry the Sheriff of Nottingham. Marian is appalled at the prospect of marrying the Sheriff and asks her ladies in waiting to help her prevent it. Before long the Sheriff has his hands full chasing a gang of robbers led by a mysterious crime lord named Robin Hood.
What the Sheriff doesn’t know is — SPOILER ALERT! SPOILER ALERT! — Robin Hood and his merry men are actually Maid Marian and her ladies in waiting.
“Their ultimate goal is to make the Sheriff seem like an incompetent idiot so that Prince John will call off the betrothal,” DeMoville explained. “But, things get out of hand, and eventually Marian is forced to confront the Sheriff as Robin Hood.”
The bumbling Sheriff plans to send a pack of hounds into Sherwood Forest to track down the bandits, but because of cuts to his budget, all he can send are some poorly trained “attack ferrets.”
Things do not go well for the Sheriff and his ferrets.
Eventually, Marian and her ladies in waiting, disguised as Robin Hood and his Merry Men, have a wacky sword fight with the Sheriff and his guards. It turns out that the Sheriff has an agenda as well.
“From the beginning I wanted action, adventure and zany comedy,” DeMoville said. “With Robin Hood you get sword fighting, archery and lots of fun characters to work with.”
