We round up the reviews for Carl Grose‘s take on the legend, directed for the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre by Melly Still.
London Theatre1: **** “The play is marvellously inventive and original in turning our expectations around.”
London Unattached: “Music and songs formed a crucial part of this production, with a band playing throughout from the back of the stage. The ensemble singing at the end of the production was especially joyful. Choreography and movement were strong throughout the production as was the lighting (Zoe Spurr) which is especially challenging in an outdoor theatre where the performance begins in daylight and ends in darkness. Regents Park is the perfect venue for a production of Robin Hood as the Sherwood Forest seems to surround the stage, with huge, mature trees in which birds were nesting for the night.”
All That Dazzles: * ‘The biggest problem with Robin Hood is that none of the elements blend well together. Every aspect of the production feels at odds with the others, almost like every creative involved had a completely different vision for what the show should be.”
West End Best Friend: *** “here is a clear goal of educating younger members of the audience in the corruption of governments in a light-hearted way. However, as the lines started to blur from jokes that would go over children’s heads to two quite brutal and gruesome murders and an over-reliance on hallucinogenic drugs (yes, you read that right) in Act 2, we were left feeling quite concerned for the younger people in the audience and quite unsure as to what had happened to the “twist on a classic tale” play that we were watching. We’ve not even mentioned a chest full of talking fingers making an appearance!”
The Guardian: **** “The show feels a little too twisty and messy at times but it is utterly winning too. The entire thing froths over with a great sense of fun and heaps of imagination. This is how to rewrite a legend: a must-see this summer.”
The Telegraph: *** “There’s no romance for Robin – and Little John becomes Little Joan – in Open Air Theatre’s Robin Hood: the Legend. Re-written.”
Broadway World: *** “Although it has a rocky beginning, there is definite promise in this show and there are plenty of magical and entertaining moments for all to enjoy.”
London Unattached: “Robin Hood: The Legend. Re-Written was a pacy, entertaining and very funny production. It is recommended for children from 8 and above but be aware that there are some gory scenes that young children may well find disturbing.”
To find out more about the production visit: https://openairtheatre.com/production/robin-hood