Robin Hood

Lindley Players, as usual excellent scenery design (Tim Hinchliffe) particularly the scene in the forest. Director/ Choreographer/MD Lucie Nash - good to see nearly everyone involved, moving is so difficult for some, but everyone looked engaged if a bit anxious at times. Would warn against routines that have ‘armography’ you’ve got to all be doing the same thing together or make it part of the comedy.

Lucie your cast was chosen well and certainly was a credit to you. Directed with a lot of thought…excellent.

Robin Hood (Gemma Conway) really ‘stage’ aware, and well rehearsed. A good voice, but sometimes her mic had moved and so couldn’t hear her as well as ‘Marion’. I liked her confidence – it was obvious that she made other people on stage feel confident. Maid Marion.(Toni Hayes) has good singing voice. Well rehearsed.kids were excellent – acting was assured and words remembered. Their parents’ should be very proud.

Dame (Kevin Monk) - I personally thought he was a pleasure – he worked hard and radiated likeability. I didn’t feel threatened, which strangely I do sometimes with panto dames – they often seem a bit sinister. This guy didn’t. I enjoyed his slapstick oh yes I did !!!

Alan a Dale (Vicky Wilsher) - sweet  but needed to be a bigger voice, certainly initially in the opening dialogue etc. well done.

Sheriff of Nottingham(Glyn Maflin) (‘Richard III’ double) and sidekick (Robert Spaul) - these guys know their stuff and are able to turn on a sixpence. The mood lifted every time they made an entrance – some of their routines were really hilarious. Great timing, the right amount of corpsing and the audience were in on it. Obviously the accolade must go to the Sheriff. The school scene was good and the dungeon scene was really funny – and the business with the door had everyone in hysterics. Loved the ‘arrow routine' sound effect.

Little Joan (Clare Snashall) - had stage presence from the word go and maintained good characterisation throughout – acting and musical numbers. 

Rabbits (Emma Thomas) her puppetry was superb and having to change voices and hands at same time excelled…such perfection.

Friar – (Martin Prestage) (He was so posh) - as he became less self-aware he grew in confidence. Noticed that he really put his all into the musical numbers!

The chorus – tentative start – characters should be big from the word go! The band of thieves – aka the soldiers – were well practiced and maintained their characterisation.

For me the musical numbers were particularly good when the full chorus performed, singing with gusto – and knew almost all of the words. The musical choices were a bit obscure on occasions – but very inventive on others. Most seemed to be recent ‘hits’ - maybe a few more well known songs would have increased the amusement and entertainment value for the older members of the audience (of which there were many). Sometimes it wasn’t until the chorus of the songs that you could appreciate the relevance to the ‘story’ line. Costumes (in the hands of Wendy Snelgrove, with Hilary Newman and Fiona Zee) were colourful and in period…well done ladies not an easy job. But you succeeded.

I personally had a really good evening, it progressed into a rip roaring, laughter-fest. The audience were affectionate and dedicated followers of the Lindley players. We knew what was coming and would have felt short-changed if there hadn’t been the water pistols and the flying sweeties! I came out feeling much more warm-hearted than when I first arrived at this lovely little theatre, The Playhouse. A big thank you to all the volunteers who made everyone feel comfortable and very welcome. Congratulation on the super team work all round.. thanks for inviting me and my guest.

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