By Rae Hunt
As a reviewer, I had the privilege to attend a show on behalf of Front Row Reviewers in Spanish Fork at the Angelus Theatre for Cobb&Co Theater Productions’ play, Robin Hood the Musical. This work, originally written back in the 1980s and performed initially in the 1990s, has gone through several revisions to make it what it is today. The performance is clever, witty and has the audience in stitches for the entire evening.
The story follows the traditional casting of Robin Hood (John Cobb) and his band of merry men as well as his nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham (Brandon Pack), as they go up against each other in pursuit of Maid Marian (Alyssa Garn), the lovely ward of King Richard (Darin Erickson). This retelling takes the traditional story as we know it and gives it a twist. The story starts with Robin Hood as he works with his best friend, John Little (Michael Mehner), to recruit townsfolk to his band of merry men. King Richard has been taken captive and is being held for ransom. Maid Marian is visiting Nottingham under the direction of Prince John (Nate Erickson) as he didn’t have time to deal with watching her for Richard. The Sheriff of Nottingham is less than pleased at being stationed in Nottingham as he considers it remote and lacking in culture. In a bid to get out of Nottingham, he conceives the idea that marrying Maid Marian would afford him higher prestige and potentially be his ticket back to London. During the course of her journey to Nottingham, Marian, along with her lady-in-waiting, Roslyn (Ali Hatfield), and her squire, Percival (Steve Whitehead), run into Robin and his gang in Sherwood Forest. There, she advises Robin that the ransom for King Richard has gone up and they cannot afford to pay it. Robin wins her affections by agreeing to raise the funds needed for Richard’s release. Robin needs to work with the townsfolk and his band of thieves in order to acquire the funds necessary for Richard. Will he be able to do so and save Marian from the schemes of the villainous Sheriff?
John Cobb’s performance as Robin Hood was passionate and witty. His stage presence and his oration is confident and speaks to the dedication he has for this role. The chemistry and banter between Cobb and Mehner really sells the close friendship Robin Hood and John Little have for each other. Mehner, in turn, really adds to the performance with his fantastic voice. It’s rich and full and draws you in.
As the Sheriff, Brandon Pack is amazing at making you really hate the character. Between constantly picking on the Constable or bootlicking up to Prince John and being sleazy as he tries to woo Maid Marian, he does an excellent job at this.
Gabi Pack, on the other end of the scale, makes a convincing timid constable. She does a fine job making you feel sorry for her character and cheering when she finally stands up to the bullying Sheriff.
Garn has several solo pieces as Maid Marian. Her voice is beautiful and soaring as she sings about love and duty. She conveys well her worries for the King and her determination that Prince John won’t win against the rightful ruler.
Whitehead, who plays her dutiful squire, Percival, did well with a unique but authentic accent. He played this role very well and was an asset to Marian’s entourage.
Marian’s lady-in-waiting Roslyn was well-cast as played by Hatfield. She is fun, energetic and eager to help Marian. Her voice is lovely, innocent and she sings with confidence.
While their parts in the story are small, Nate Erickson as Prince John and Darin Erickson as King Richard do an excellent job with royal attitude and posture. They command the stage just as well as they command their roles.
As Will Scarlet, Higley carries himself with confidence and when he’s singing, his voice is strong and sure.
Ruthie Cobb, who plays Ingrid, does fantastic at switching between flirtatious and dramatic moods with ease. I love the accent she uses for this role; its sassy and no-nonsense tone is perfect for her character.
Nathan Harper, the youngest cast member, plays Ingrid’s son Heathcliff. His mischievous performance makes him a perfect recruit to Robin’s crew. He does a great job with the dance moves and has a very tenacious personality. I love the comedic way he keeps trying to sneak into places the adults don’t want him to be. He was invaluable as an additional source of laughs for the audience. In addition to him, the siblings Malena and Mason Hirst do an excellent job in filling out Robin’s group of merry men. While they have few individual lines, they are amazing in the group dances and songs. MacMichael, who played Alan Adale, the bard had a primarily singing role. This is a fantastic choice as his voice is vibrant, but soothing. It is a real treat to be serenaded by him. The role of Friar Tuck is also exceptionally cast. Hyde’s accent and character portrayal was well-done. His humor is infectious and I believe to be the most unique and funny I’ve encountered to date. Lastly, but most definitely not least, Watts’ performance as the drunk Archbishop is masterful and hilarious. One of my favorite moments was watching him try to marry the Sheriff to Prince John instead of performing a coronation while almost completely inebriated.
The play is doubly a success due to the technical crew. The lighting is excellent, changing to fit appropriate moods and locations. The stage design was a perfect blend of forest elements and castle parapets. This allows scene changes easier and more minimal. The main tree was cleverly built to allow cast to perch upon a higher branch and looks amazing. This original play has music and scripting that is unique and engaging.
This production runs through April 1, so come to Angelus Theatre for an uproariously good time. This is a performance worthy of King Richard himself. You don’t want to miss out!
Cobb&Co Theater Productions Presents Robin Hood the Musical.
Angelus Theater, 164 N Main St, Spanish Fork, UT 84660
Mar 17 – Apr 1, 2023, 7:30 PM. See site for individual performance details.
Tickets: $13
Contact: cobbcotheaterproductions@gmail.com
cobbcotheaterproductions.com
Robin Hood the Musical Facebook Event
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