Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood

This was a production bursting with energy, joie de vivre, great songs, lively and creative dancing, and plenty of good jokes, from the enthusiastic ensemble opening number ‘Sherwood Party’ with its whoops and hollers and lots of choreographed arm movements, to the final curtain. The performances, from both the ensemble and the main characters, were all of a high standard and the Director (Brian Travers), Choreographer (Victoria Jones) and the actors delivered a traditional family pantomime to the huge enjoyment of all. Alan-a-Dale gave a great introduction, interacting warmly and welcomingly with shout-outs for particular individuals in the auditorium and leading the audience in a round of ‘happy birthday’ for a birthday boy.

The Sheriff of Nottingham proved to be suitably and delightfully evil, with a nasty laugh and villainous gestures. He delivered some good topical jokes, such as about the cost of heating, played air-guitar with panache, and had some great dance moves in the number ‘This hell’. His acting in the final scene, with some Richard III ‘my kingdom for a horse’ material, was particularly engaging. Maid Marion, in addition to singing very well, gave an equally suitable and delightful portrayal of charm, care and compassion, not only falling for Robin and avoiding the machinations of the Sheriff but also helping to drive forward the sub-plot of the Babes in the Wood – in this case teenage wards. The Babes worked very well together, lively and jolly and with singing voices.

Robin Hood, too, sang very well indeed, for example in her first song ‘I want it that way’, in a lovely number with Alan Adale, Friar Tuck, Will Scarlett and Little John, and in a particularly striking duet with Maid Marion in the prison cell. There was a nice bit of panto thigh slapping early on in Act 2 and a lovely Chariots of Fire joke with Robin running in slow motion to the Van Gelis soundtrack. Her performance, both acting and singing, was all the more impressive given that she unfortunately was away for a large part rehearsal process due to illness.

Tik and Tok provided a great comic double act and particularly enjoyable was the ‘it’s behind you’ scene with the bear in the woods, stalking Tik and Tok before finally being scared away by the Dame character, Annie Biotic. The performance of Annie Biotic was absolutely superb throughout, a bravura one and with bags of energy, great singing and some very clever improvisations. Full marks!

The ensemble cast had clearly worked really well and hard in rehearsal and delivered great numbers, with strong singing and dancing. The complex robotic hand gestures performed in one of the songs were particularly impressive. So too were the costumes, into which a lot of work had clearly gone, especially those of Annie Biotic, who had a great many costume changes, some of which had to be impressively fast.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable and well-crafted production, performed with gusto. Good lighting and technical touches such as the on-stage smoke/dry ice enhanced it, and the programme too was excellent. Congratulations to everyone involved.

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