Robin Hood And The Babes In The Wood
Reviewed by Gwendolen Pearson for The Croydon Advertiser
Panto with elf service
Tiny tots strongly outnumbered adults at the packed Sunday performance of Coulsdon theatre Workshop’s panto “Robin Hood and The Babes in the Wood”.
The show was just right for them with its pretty scenery, attractive medieval costumes, etc.
meanwhile the old tale of the wicked uncle hiring robbers to kill his little wards so that he can take their lands, was clearly and cheerfully told. And since the whole show lasted only an hour, without the interval, the youngest in the audience were not over-taxed.
There were agreeable original touches in the script, like the gracious Queen in the last act (Lesley Argles) who employed a jester to blow a whistle whenever Her Majesty made one of her feeble jokes so that the populace knew when to laugh.
Undoubtedly the most popular intervention into the plot was by a number of rather odd elves wickedly described as being supplied by the National Elf Service! These frolicking outsize srpites, with pointed ears, cavorted to Grieg’s Troll Dance, and later helped the Fairy (Wendy Cole) to cover the babes (Alison Nickson and Katie Andrews) with the traditional cover of leaves. The elves, by the way, wish ed to remain anonymous, the programme said!
Jokes in a script that, if not inspired, kept the story moving briskly along, were often endearingly groan-worthy like the Inn that was called The Tuck Shop because Robin’s friar went there!
Spirited olde English songs like “Among the leaves so green-o” were featured (no soppy love songs to make the youngsters restive) and the latter had their own spot when they crowded on stage to sing a silly ditty about “Going this way and that way.” They were paid in sweets for their services.
Vicki Carrington slapped a shapely thigh as Robin and Richard Lloyd was a splendidly villainous Baron with an eye-patch and long bent nose.
Chris Argles produced and Brim was at the keyboards.
There’s a further performance tomorrow (Saturday) at 8pm.
Cast Details:
Robin Hood
Vicki Carrington
Little John
Peter Gregory
Allan A’Dale
Mark Hobbs
Friar Tuck
Tim Young
Sir Richard
Mark Taylor
Marian
Claudia Dean
Billy (The Babes)
Alison Nickson
Betty (The Babes)
Katie Andrews
Nurse
Martin Cole
The Evil Baron
Richard Lloyd
Copperknob (Villains)
Simeon Dawes
Gingernut (Villains)
Lee Wilkinson
The Sheriff
Oliver Noble
The Innkeeper
Maureen Hoy
The Fairy
Wendy Cole
The Queen
Lesley Argles
The Court Jester
Colleen Donovan
Billy (Sunday Performance)
Joanna Bassett
Technical Crew Details:
Director
Chris Argles
Assistant Director
Lucy Blows
Lighting
John Wooden
Stage Manager
Jerry Simms
Set design & construction
Nigel Sorensen
Set design & construction
Richard Lloyd
Costumes
Wendy Cole
Costumes
Maureen Hoy
Refreshments
Jean Cole
Band Details:
Musical Director/Keyboards
Brim