It’s been a perfect summer – so far – for outdoor theatre. So The Open Air Theatre in Regents Park is lucky to have currently showing Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-Written.
Yes this Robin Hood is definitely re-written for this production, but it’s not too sure what it’s trying to be: a comedy, drama, a rapping pagan to Mr. Hood, Shakespeare, but more likely a college production that’s a bit of a mess.
We get not one, not two, but three Robin Hoods, but they’re not on stage that much. What we do not get is the classic Robin Hood story – as it says in the title – it’s re-written.
But It’s all over the place in a production that would’ve been a perfect telling of Robin Hood in the forest in the midst of the green trees and green grass of Regents Park, and with some bold birds flying about.
What else is flying about are arrows that are flung back and forth between the characters but luckily they are magic tricks where no members of the audience, actors and crew, were hurt. The best bits, and chuckles, involve the King (a very funny Paul Hunter who is the best thing in this show) and his banter with his staff, and his absentmindedness. Ellen Robertson is good as Marian, very confident. The rest of the case are adequate enough.
The show gets better in the short second half which is where the real action and drama take place. But it’s all a little bit too late. No doubt the kiddies who attend won’t take notice and will thoroughly enjoy the show, the adults, however, will know that this show is one of the very few mis-fires from this lovely theatre.