Robin Hood: Lustrous Lollapalooza of a Play Part2

THE HEART OF ROBIN HOOD
Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge 617-547-8300.
Playwright : David Farr
Director: Gisli Örn Gardarsson
Set, Börkur Jónsson, Costumes, Emma Ryott, Lights, Björn Helgason, Sound, Jonathan Deans
Performing company: American Repertory Theater
Date closing: Jan. 19
Ticket price:  Starting at $25

Arrive early so you can appreciate the transformation of the theater space. Two steps in the door and it feels like you're under the canopy of an old-growth forest, the air is moist and chilly, the cascading set a rich mixture of browns and greens that stretches into the midst of the theater, and strains of music coming from somewhere.

Five young men, tall, skinny, bearded indie rockers in boots, baggy pants and funky hats dressed like extras in the film "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" appear from a dimly lit grotto under a massive tree trunk at the way back corner of the set. They shuffle, ramble, and high step their way across the grassy set all the way up and down the theater aisles amongst bemused audience members trying to find their seats. "Poor Old Shine," (mandolin, guitar, standup bass, percussion, pump organ) sings a rollicking danceable ditty, "Don't Let Your Burden Touch the Ground" with fierce upbeat energy. For a while, I think the band must have taken a wrong turn on the way to Club Passim down the street. In the ten minutes before the play, they’ve got us jacked up considerably. The crowd is cheering even before the play begins. If this production doesn’t come out of the blocks strong, I’m thinking it could sink like a stone.

First scene: A simulated coach, servant acting as horse, a well-dressed couple on a daring ride through Sherwood Forest which we become aware is not the safest place for such travelers. Indeed they are stopped by Robin Hood and his Merry Men who leap from trees and bound with astonishing athletic tumbles, twists, and turns to surround the coach and relieve the frightened nobles of their pocketbooks then send them in their underwear to pull their own cart coach out of the woods. They are happy with their heist and add it to the riches they have already fleeced from travelers in their woods. And have no intention of desisting. Forget about that stone.

Robin Hood (Jordan Dean), tall, muscular, with six-pack abs, makes it clear that Sherwood Forest is a man's world. "Women cause cause tension in the heart of a man, they make us unreliable, we must make our heart a fortress." As the alpha dog in the ‘hood, what he says goes. No matter how much I rave about this, you will be astonished by the jaw dropping Olympic-style twisting turning tumbling gamboling the actors perform during their staged battles and thieveries.

Marion’s father, the Duke of York, is pressured by the villainous Prince John (Damian Young) for Marion’s hand in marriage. Marion loathes the lecherous prince. Marion (Christina Bennett Lind) learns of Robin Hood and his mercenary ways from her endearingly charming and effeminate attendant Pierre (Christopher Sieber), a scene-stealer of the first order. And thus sets up the story when Marion decides to disguise herself as Martin of Sherwood and rob and give to the poor as a proper Robin Hood should. Robin confronts and is impressed by the spirited Martin of Sherwood/Marion who persuades him to join forces to battle the rich and rescue two children kidnapped by the cruel Prince John.

Jeremy Crawford as Little John, Jordan Dean as Robin and Poor Old Shine. (Evgenia Eliseeva)

The first act loses traction from time to time but regains its footing, often thanks to Marion’s attendant Pierre, whose comic antics, double-entendres, and fey mannerisms never fail to tie together a plot element and draw guffaws from the audience. The casting, from the lowliest ruffian to the principals, is spot on. Robin Hood, Marion, Prince John and Pierre fill their roles with outsized energy.

Although you know the bad guys will receive their comeuppance, the lovers will be united and the kingdom will live happily ever after, there are one or two surprises that sweeten the foreknowledge. After witnessing “The Heart of Robin Hood,” it is clear that he’d never have found his heart were it not for the resourceful personality and strong willed nature of Marion, who brings enough civility to Robin so he retains his alpha status while adding a dimension of humanity and love.

Creative vision, writing, acting, set lighting, design, music, and start-to-finish entertainment, this is one of the most complete and satisfying productions I’ve seen in years.

++++++++++++++++

A Cheer to the Loeb Drama Center
The Loeb Drama Center was made for a production like this. In my humble opinion, the Loeb uses its arsenal of theatrical magic (apparatus to allow actors to fly, to descend from the sky using thick circus type rope and cables, to appear from portals under the stage, capacity to fabricate stunningly creative sets, to name a few) because it wants to keep them from gathering dust - they often upstage or overmatch the production on stage. In "The Heart of Robin Hood", they do it because it’s a perfect fit. 

Building the set...
No other theater in town could mount this production in such spectacular scale. The back of the set is a huge arc that looks like someone detached a wide forty foot high section of a grassy roller coaster and deposited it there. From it actors slide and tumble, drawbridges appear to allow scenes to take place in locales other than the forest, and several other things it would be shame to tell you and spoil surprises. The aerial ballet during the finale is ...oops, I'll let you find out for yourself.

Comments

[Christopher Huggins]

At your recommendation, Helene bought tickets for the play this Saturday at 2PM. Wasn't easy to get the tics. The good word has spread thanks to you you and other satisfied theater goers. Merry Chrismas!

[Paul A. Tamburello, Jr aka pt at large]

Great! I look forward to hearing what you think of it. Get to your seats in the theater at least ten minutes early to catch the band liven up the joint.

[Helene Huggins]

Thamk you for urging me to get tickets. We all loved it!

[Mishy Lesser]

LOVED the play. You were right and we will always try to follow your theatre picks!