Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood

It was great to see your company up and performing again following all the problems of the last two years. It was also brilliant to view the Community Hall extension and improvements, the new ventilation system was very efficient.  Thank you once again for your warm welcome.

The hall was spaciously laid out so that I felt happy to remove my mask during the show. It was a shame your audience was not larger but those who had come to support you were very enthusiastic and supportive. The empty stage was set up with two covered areas which were well used during the performance and the lighting and sound well controlled from the back of the hall.

The script was an excellent length. It followed the traditional tale of Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood, was meticulously written by your director, moved along at a good pace and contained all the quips, puns and gags expected in a pantomime.  There were many opportunities for audience participation which they enjoyed.

The stage was dressed with a variety of carefully produced backdrops and legs which worked well with the different scenes. The stage was thoughtfully dressed with appropriate scenery. I especially liked the schoolroom and how it doubled up as the prison in the castle. Props were numerous and well used by your cast and the inclusion of the Ukrainian Flag in the geography lesson was very poignant.

Your range of costumes were brilliant. They were numerous, colourful and well fitting. I understand that the company sort them out themselves from a set of plastic boxes, all I can say is that those boxes must be countless! Someone must have a good eye because your company all looked the part, although I would have liked to see a belt on Robin’s outfit throughout. The changes worked well and the dancers’ outfits from the Showtime Academy were outstanding, what a wonderful resource for you to use.  I would lastly like to mention your Dame, I have been told she sorts out her wonderful costumes.  I must admit I like a traditional dame costume and she produced so many. Time had been taken to include a variety of materials, colours, patterns and styles which were expertly accessories. I kept waiting for her next scene and was not disappointed, her ‘BOO’ was appreciated by the whole audience. A true asset to your society!!

Another strength to your group is your talented choreography team. The routines produced were of a high quality throughout the evening from the little animal’s dance to the full cast sequences. Many different types of dances were included and all those involved were well rehearsed and smiled.  I thought it was great the way the younger members were involved in the more complex movement whilst some of the more mature members were completing their actions at the back of the stage. You are certainly a very lucky company to have such a skilful team!  One of the highlights was the ‘Dancing Queen’ routine. The costumes brought the song to life, Nellie seemed to be channelling her ‘Donna’ and little Isla at the front was a star.  She was totally absorbed in what she was doing, she knew every move and was a joy to watch.  Absolutely brilliant!

The show began with your goody and baddy setting the scene. Florence your ‘Fairy in Training’, positioned herself carefully on her spot and her diction was very clear, you could hear her rhymes. It was great to see her powers increase during the performance as she worked towards her wings.  I’m not sure if she was intentionally late to stop the fight but it certainly amused the audience. Her nemesis the Sheriff of Nottingham arrived powerfully from stage left. I felt he appeared a little nervous initially but it did not take him long for him to find his confidence and produce the menacing demeanour everyone expected.  He interreacted well with the audience and the ‘Boos’ increased during the performance. He obviously knew the script well and jumped in with a great adlib when the curtain was opened too early. Many congratulations to both.

Robin and his two ‘merry men/women’ were the next principals we met. Robin looked the part he had a good stance, was animated and spoke clearly. He interacted well with the other members of the cast on the stage. The comedy team of Joan and Tuck worked well together. They both had some great puns and gags which were clearly delivered and their physical comedy especially the classic ‘tipping bench’ was done with aplomb. Joan’s mathematical skills were exceptional especially her adding up to 9! Well done.

The Sheriff of Nottingham’s servant Billy exploded onto the stage. He was so full of energy and his interaction with the audience especially his catchphrase ‘Hiya Billy’ ensured they reacted to him throughout the evening. He had some brilliant lines which he pulled every ounce of meaning out of. He also looked good as a school girl! An accomplished performance.

As a company you are lucky to have such an accomplished dame who as I mentioned before was dressed immaculately. Her stage craft is brilliant, her diction is great, she interacts well with all of the cast and the audience, takes a full part in all the musical numbers and sings well.  Brilliant!

Marion arrived on stage with the Babes. This young actor portrayed the steely determination that is required with the part extremely well. She spoke clearly, sang beautifully, stood up to the Sheriff and her scenes with Robin were believable. Well done.

What a wonderful pair of ‘Babes’ you had. They were both animated throughout their time on stage, knew their lines well and spoke them with expression. It appeared to me that time had been taken with them to teach them how to react to a situation on the stage a skill that will stand them in good stead later in life. These abilities were evident in the ‘heavy’ case scene, in the prison and during the chase with Billy.  Both of the children sang well with confidence. A skilful performance.

Cecily and Petunia’s excellent delivery worked well during their recitation in the school scene. They had both obviously practiced many times to ensure they were word perfect. Well done.

The choice of musical numbers during the show enhanced the performance from Peer Gynt for the ‘Ghost’ scene to modern well-known tunes.

Your company maybe small in comparison to others but not in stage presence. They were all totally on point during the whole performance and produced a show of the highest calibre. It was great to view such a fast-moving show in which all the members on stage were fully involved.  Many congratulations to all your team.

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

 

Sheila Gill

Representative NODA Southwest 2

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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