Robin Hood and His Merry Men

In celebration of their 50th Anniversary the group decided to perform Bob Hammond’s version of the traditional tale of “Robin Hood and His Merry Men”. The cast of 16 principals and chorus of 26 young people threw themselves into the story with great enthusiasm from the beginning much to the delight of the almost full house audience of family, friends and fellow Easter Rossers. Gina Peasnail as the Narrator led us expertly through the story with a lovely dry wit and turn of phrase and reminded me greatly of the actress Selina Griffiths who played Pauline Maltby in “Benidorm”. Dawn Gregory made an impressive Robin, Earl of Locksley as he tried to ensure the love of his life The Lady Marion, strongly played by Zoe MacBeath, did not have to marry the The Sheriff. Ian Shearer, who took on the part late into rehearsals, played The Sheriff not so much as evil but more as a dastardly, scheming character (a la Dick Dastardly in “Wacky Races”) and only needed a moustache to twirl to complete the image! Martin MacKenzie was once again excellent as the dame - this time as Robin’s man-chasing mother Clementine, Countess of Locksley. Her antics with The Sheriff during her rendition of “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie” had the audience in stitches. Strong support was given by Robin’s band of outlaws – Tracy Chatten (Friar Tuck), Rhianna Fraser (Alan A’dale), Roslyn Oliver-Jones (Much the Miller), John Gunn (Will Scarlett) and their leader Little John (Sorrel Jones). Also lending strong support were Brett Plumridge as The Sheriff’s sidekick Dogberry and Sheila Fraser as Lord Knowse, King Richard’s emissary and Clementine’s eventual fiance. Adding to the humour of the piece were Jane Milne and Jade Green as two of Sherwood Forest’s trees as they made the audience groan as they delivered numerous “tree” puns. Cameo appearances were made by Dennis MacDonald as King Richard the Lionheart and Peter Whiteley as the Lumberjack. The costumes by Angela Main and Elaine Quinn were appropriate to the characters and the era with Clementine having a different and more outrageous one at every entrance she made! Well done everyone on delivering an evening of true community theatre and sending the audience home with smiles on their faces.

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