The Heart of Robin Hood: Lustrous Lollapalooza of a Play

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

I’m going to write more about this soon but I need to shout this out right now. Stop reading and get a ticket to this lollapalooza of a production – pronto.

If Cirque de Soleil got a hankering to put on a first rate piece of theater that smacked of Shakespeare it would display the visual oomph and playful spirit of "The Heart of Robin Hood." This thing is bigger than life. Actors appear from holes in the ground, a pond in the middle of the stage, tumble down from the tree canopy that overspreads the playground of a set, and appear from hidey holes and platforms built into the cascading backdrop of the set. I’ve never seen a playhouse so imaginatively transformed into a magical forest, Sherwood Forest to be exact.

I’m getting ahead of myself. There are so many things to rave about. Playwright David Farr has turned the legend inside out. By the final scenes of the play he retains the spirit of the original but turns it upside down and shakes it. Robin Hood is a bit of a thug, steals from the rich and shares it with his Merry Men. Poor peasants oppressed by the overlord? What poor peasants?

Then appears Marion, daughter of the Duke of York, allied with Richard The Lionhearted presently off crusading in distant lands. Marion, with her irrepressible attendant Pierre, heads for the forest to escape marriage to the villainous lecher Prince John and to teach a thug a lesson in civility.

From left: Jordan Dean, Christina Bennett Lind, and Christopher Sieber in American Repertory Theater’s production of “The Heart of Robin Hood.”

What follows is a merry mix of comedy, drama, and high jinx. Great dialogue, sight gags, an ingeniously designed set, sensationally choreographed slow motion fight scenes, a few gory scenes to leaven the broad humor, mistaken identities and a couple of vile characters representing the forces of evil.... a wonderful amalgamation of alchemy and imagination
 
Every one of the actors gloms onto their roles with zest you can feel all the way to the back of the theater. (Note: The Loeb, with a capacity of around 590 reduced the house to 530 seats to accommodate the sprawling set. No matter where you sit, you won’t be far from the action.)

Oh. Get there early.  The Connecticut roots band  “Poor Old Shine” adds a smashingly appealing musical element. Dressed like a bunch of extras in “O, Brother, Where Art Thou?” they rollick through the theater for about ten minutes amongst patrons trying to find their seats. Their singing and playing is seamlessly integrated, the musicians of Poor Old Shine even get into the acting. Ever seen a bass fiddler imitate a wild boar?

With a rousing finale, all's well that ends well.
TO BE  CONTINUED...

 

Comments

[Myke Farricker]

Carol and I saw this last Saturday - loved it. Was even thinking of going again with Zoe but not sure I can fit it in.

[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!

[Bambi Good]

thank you and for the push to see "Robin Hood" which I well might have seen anyway as a friend suggested it, but you really had me pumped about it!