Robin Hood (That sick F*ck) is a hilarious new adaptation of the infamous character Robin Hood, by Baby Lamb Theatre Productions, which is written by the cast and directed by Hannah Mcleod. With Sheriff Shirley and her team on his tail, Robin Hood and his Merry Men find themselves in a cat and mouse chase. Joining them is behavioural Psychologist Alexandra, whose unorthodox methods provide for an entertaining show.
The play really emphasises its focus on comedy, with messy relationships between all of the characters, and power dynamics that the audience can't help but want to see explored more. The show neatly dives into these relationships, complicating but never overwhelming the story and allow for certain scenes to breath. A press conference with the Sheriff and her team after a jailbreak is a wonderful example of letting the script speak for itself. With local references in a satirical tone, well-established organisations are quickly and intelligently made fun of. A counter to the clever writing is the sheer volume of sexual innuendos made, ranging from innocent implications to direct vulgar jokes, which definitely appealed to the audience demographic.
The cast are hilarious, with each of them having a very clear and distinctive comedic style. Ashok Gupta as Robin Hood brings the impish and carefree mischief to the beloved character, despite being a darker and more threatening re-imagination. His easy charm and joyous nature really helps set the tone of the show. Sasha Brooks really emphasises the ditzy Maid Marian and unrequited affection for Robin Hood in a winningly naive performance. Hannah McLeod as Sheriff Shirley brings a quiet but significant weight to the play, with her inner turmoil affecting both her personal and professional life. Combined with her vocal talent, McLeod delivers a satisfying and emotive performance as the Sheriff.
Nisha Emich is brilliant as the behavioural Psychologist Alexandra, with a hypnotising and powerful performance. "Chocolate Stallion" Janik Rajapakse as DI Guy Gisborne is hilarious, leaning into his "tough and passionate" guy exterior. His forward and awkward antics have the audience howling with laughter (and cringing) throughout. Jacob Baird is the show's standout performer with his performance as Father Tuck, an Irish priest with a direct hot line with Jesus. Yet it's his exaggerated actions and the later reveal of the character that really drive his character.
The actors, apart from McLeod, have a double role, portraying Robin Hood and his gang, and members on the Sheriff's task force. The characters are playfully self-aware, taking jabs at their counterpart roles. Each character is also given a solo or duet musical number that often focused on a defining trait. Despite being added mostly for comedic value with hilarious and witty lyrics, it’s an effective storytelling method and further helps to understand the characters. McLeod and Rajapakse, in particular, stood out in these songs with their impressive sustained notes and rapping. The music was composed by Gupta with lyrics by the cast.
The staging is quite simple, with bright green lighting, a curtain of fake vines for forest scenes, and a detailed crime whiteboard and fireplace for the station. The performers often don green cloaks or hats for the Merry Men, and change into more formal clothing for office scenes. Scene changes are quick, and using multiple entrances and exits, there is a constant sense of action with the characters.
Robin Hood (That Sick F*ck) has the essence of reminding one of a pantomime, without leaning too far into the cliches or interactive nature. Delightful, entertaining and chaotic, the cast have put together a fun new adaptation of Robin Hood that hits the bullseye.
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Gifted tickets in return for an honest review |
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