Chris Eldon Lee reviews ‘Robin Hood and Marian’, which is at the New Vic in Newcastle Under Lyme until Saturday 30th January 2016
Here’s a conundrum for your cracker. When is a Christmas Show not a Christmas Show?
It’s certainly a bold step to take the 800th anniversary of the signing of the Magna Carta and wrap it up with the story of Robin Hood. Back then, bad King John was busy taxing the poor to make himself rich…and we all know Robin’s philosophy. When the monarch’s hand was forced, he signed the blueprint for Churchill, Cameron and Obama. But the political overtones of this show push it up towards an older age group than usual, at the New Vic at Christmas.
It’s certainly a spectacular show; a large, pacey, ambitious production that utilises every inch of the theatre, delivering plenty of high-energy swordplay and classy surprises. There’s tumbling and fire and even the trees of Sherwood Forest are choreographed. The key ‘ahhh!’ moment is the arrival of four beautiful, puppet birds of prey.
The famous set pieces of Robin’s story are excellently staged. His first encounter with Little John on a swaying rope bridge over a raging river is just great, as whirl pools open to swallow the combatants; whilst Robin’s mouthy sidekick shouts advice from the shore and the highly talented musical members of the cast go into Klezmer overdrive. (James Atherton’s music is lovely, by the way, and there’s plenty of it).
Later, in the showpiece archery contest, the stagecraft that allows Robin’s arrow to split his opponent’s before our very eyes is ingenious enough to demand an action reply.
But it’s a very much a show for the head, rather than the heart. It’s all very cleverly done and immaculately rehearsed; one can’t fault the production values. But it’s as if a huge effort has gone into making the show work, at the expense of emotion. Robin is not exactly charismatic and Marian is barely a maid. There’s no love scene to speak of and the laugh count is low. Both are vital ingredients in any family show at this time of year.
The most rounded character is, ironically, the baddie. Perry Moore plays Prince John as a lily-livered mummy’s boy with fly-away hair. His designs on Marian are focused purely on producing a royal baby to improve his popularity.
Susan Harrison also shines as the headstrong young Much, the miller’s orphaned son. Though you have to be careful with killings at Christmas. Having established a rapport with the kids in the cast, his father has his throat slit in the first ten minutes. And the wanton execution of the children’s favourite puppet amounts to a breach of trust.
So I’m still not sure if this show is sure what it wants to be. It’s Christmas and the school coaches are booked. But the moral message shadows the innocent fun. We are told there are thousands of disaffected Robin Hoods, all waiting to rise up. With clenched fists at the curtain, the cast sing about how ‘many united voices are strong’.
Perhaps they should offer Mr Osborne a seat. Sitting in mine, I was impressed but un-warmed.
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Photo : Andrew Billington