By Jennifer Beasley.
Fractured fairytales encounter the Aussie version of the English Pantomime by the Melbourne Shakespeare Company.
Right, who’s up for a rip roaring, jolly old time in the beautiful Central Park gardens in Malvern? Now don’t be shy. Let’s see those hands. Come on, get into it, because you’ll be laughing, clapping and singing along in no time.
Armed with deck chairs, we were positioned at the rear of this sold-out event to allow for the families to sit on their picnic rugs in and around the performance spaces. The kiddies sat enthralled, sandwiches in hand, and the one dog (a golden Lab mesmerised by the smell of my chicken fried rice) and used as a bit of a prop piece by the actors, as Robin Hood and his Merry Band sang, danced, improvised and weaved their magical story as they acted around their enchanted audience.
Consisting of 5 actors, with Daniel Hillman doing an incredible job as Poor Rich the accountant, a soldier, the Captain, Bushranger Bruce, and two puppets – Chuckles the Kookaburra and Sheila the Sheep- the multi-layered jokes kept the adults happy as the kids laughed at the sillier puns and joined in with the action orientated songs.
And the story line? Pweef! This is absurdist comedy and so very well done. Although it does make sense in the comical way of reinvented stories. The very handsome Billy Thomas, who doesn’t take himself seriously at all, is the dashing Robin Hood. His second-in-command Wil Scarlet, acted by another multi-talented performer Kaia Reyes, who also did a mean turn as the Sherif of Nottingham (Boo, Hiss) and his evil cousin, gold-loving Governor Grabbit over in Australia.
Australia? Yes. Try to keep up. It’s a little-known fact, and probably totally untrue, that Robin Hood was deported. Makes sense to me because I love the Robin Hood Inn in Drouin.
Rounding out Robin’s band is the amazing Jackson Cross as Dame Tuck, a sexy man magnet who strangely reminded me of my grandmother (complete with facial hair) and great at the guitar. Rounding out this ensemble is the vivacious Lucy May Knight as Little Joan. She is a vibrant and sweet character who balances out the mad cap behaviour, although she’s frequently getting lost.
Singing songs about inclusivity, friendship and sharing, this 60-minute play/musical is brilliant. With humour that hits its mark (“We can’t afford another arrow-based lawsuit”), Director Carl Whiteside has done a wonderful job of getting every nuanced scene out of his crew. Maxwell Simon’s original score (Muriel’s wedding) lends heart to the play, and again Jackson Cross is involved as the assistant musical director.
Wonderful set, especially the ship, by Leah Downey (Berlin), who seems to have a real speciality for small stages and inventive solutions.
This is a fabulous production by the Melbourne Shakespeare Company, with Producer Michael Mack demonstrating his vast knowledge. The two puppets really set this apart theatrically, and the kids adored them.
Educational, interactive and highly entertaining, this is a definite must see. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to review, and I find that as a city Melbourne continues to impress, and the British tourists I spoke to loved it as well.
Bring your kids, bring your food and most of all, bring your smile as you’ll be using it liberally.
Robin Hood is playing at Malvern Central Park every Saturday and Sunday at 9:30am and also 11:30 am until the 16th March 2025.
Image: Sare Clarke Photography.
