Photo courtesy of @ea1785
Gluten-free Oreos. Mariah Carey. Intense bowling. What more could one ask for in a play? The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood proves the answer to this question is a resounding “nothing,” and, capitalizing on all of those concepts, it makes for a hilarious and engaging experience.
The show follows Robinhood, played by Charlie Casey ’27, a thief who steals for the poor, and his crew of “Merry Men,” who help him accomplish good deeds, when they find themselves struggling to halt the evil King John and his accomplice, the Sheriff, who adamantly neglect the struggles of England during medieval times. Their problems are solved by the introduction of “The Town’s Guy,” played by Sam Slye ’27, who is able to break the fourth wall and communicate with “Mr. Technical Director” in order to facilitate location changes, flashbacks, and fade-outs throughout the show. Each of these characters and roles was played beautifully—I even found myself wishing desperately for a place in Robinhood’s Surewood crew.
This was the first of EA’s plays I had the privilege to see, and to say I was impressed would be an understatement. Every single member of the cast delivered incredible performances, and I especially enjoyed that the tech crew was so heavily integrated into the plot of the play. Oftentimes, I feel that the stage crew works exclusively behind the scenes in these kinds of productions, and that was certainly not the case in this one!
Beyond the actors and technicians, I also enjoyed the use of music throughout the duration of the play, specifically when “All I Want for Christmas Is You” played during Robin Hood’s stint in captivity. It helped alleviate the stress that stemmed from the dire situation the protagonist was in and reminded me, and the rest of the audience, about the main purpose of the show—to incite a few giggles. I also loved when “Let’s Get It On” played to signal romance between Casey and Charlotte Jones ’28, who played Lady Marian, as well as between Sean Reagle ’27 and Charlie Locke ’28, who played the King and the Sheriff, respectively, accompanied by rainbow strobe lights.
Additionally, I want to point out how relatable I found the show, which was mainly a product of student involvement in the play and references to Gen-Z popular culture. I believe the mastermind behind this shining feature of the play was Fraser Wein ’27, who took on the role of Assistant Director for this production. Moreover, the soundtrack also featured two originals by Danity Pike ’27, one that introduces The Town’s Guy and exposition of the show at the start of the play and another that closes the show when England is saved from the torturous rule of King John.The play felt student-led from top to bottom, and I firmly believe that this notion contributed to its greatness.
Speaking of giggles, I must give specific applause to supporting actors Greg Deirmengian ’27 and Parvathi Balakrishnan ’28. Playing a foolish Merry Man named Little John and assistant to Lady Marian (Lady In Waiting), both of these actors delivered incredibly funny performances, owing to both their line delivery and profoundly dedicated body language. Deirmengian could be seen collapsed on the Black Box floor more than once, and I can still hear Balakrishnan’s screams of disgust and agony now.
If you have not yet had the pleasure of viewing one of EA’s theater productions, let this be your sign to attend the next one. Congratulations to the cast and crew of The Somewhat True Tale of Robin Hood, and I am looking forward to seeing the musical in the spring!