Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood

KEN LUDWIG’S SHERWOOD:

THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

Directed by John DiAntonio

A HISTORY OF ROBIN HOOD

Though little evidence exists to prove that Robin Hood was a real person, his presence as one of our most well-known folk heroes dates back hundreds of years, and his universal appeal continues to this day.

A Gest of Robin Hood

One of the earliest known references to Robin Hood, this gest (an adventurous tale in verse) was paired with two other stories: Robin Hood and the Monk (see page 21) and Robin Hood and the Potter. They date back to the latter half of the 15th century, though some historians believe they were written earlier. Though later versions presented him as being of noble birth and a follower of King Richard, he was originally a yeoman (a land-owning servant). Characters like Friar Tuck and Maid Marian were added as the story evolved.

Adaptations for Children

In the early 19th century, the stories were first adapted for children by writer/illustrators. One of the most popular was Howard Pyle’s The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Pyle’s illustrated poems and fairy tales were quite successful starting in 1876. Merry Adventures was his first attempt at a novel and published in 1883. Some advancements included Friar Tuck’s first appearance, and the origin of Robin Hood as a heroic outlaw who steals from the rich to give to the poor.

Howard Pyle's illustration of Friar Tuck and Robin Hood.

FAMOUS ROBINS

Robin Hood - A Fox (Brian Bedford) and Little John - A Bear (Phil Harris) in Walt Disney’s Robin Hood (1973) Kermit the Frog as Robin and Fozzie Bear as Little John

Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) Russell Crowe as Robin, Cate Blanchett as Lady Marian in Robin Hood (2010) Errol Flynn as Robin in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)

Taron Egerton as Robin and Jamie Fox as Little John in Robin Hood (2018)

KIRK & CHARLOTTE DOOLEY

Welcome to Sherwood Forest! Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood is a story we all know. A simple story about the formation of a community—an ensemble, a team, a band of merry outlaws—bound by a common goal. Sort of like a repertory theatre located in the John DiAantonio middle of the San Juan Mountains for the last 57 years. To quote Friar Tuck, “We need to turn back time to the moment when a band of outlaws, friends— outcasts, really—joined together here in Sherwood Forest to change the world, just a mite, one inch, one-one hundredth of an inch, that’s all that any of us can ever hope to accomplish—but we felt the need to fight injustice and want, and to make the world more kind.” After the fragility of these last two years, CRT is here to make the world kinder, one play at a time.

My three-year-old son, Leo, has fallen in love with Disney’s 1973 version of the Robin Hood tale, in which Robin is portrayed as a fox and Little John a bear. Leo is particularly taken by the moment when Lady Kluck, a hen and lady-in-waiting to Maid Marian, stampedes into a group of Nottingham soldiers (a bunch of rhinoceroses) during the archery tournament. You won’t find charging rhinos or fighting chickens in our production, but I hope the feeling of magical excitement will be the same. For you are our denizens of Sherwood Forest. I hope you’ll join our community of outlaws to make the world more kind. Welcome.

Robin Hood and the Monk

“This is a merry morning,” said Little John, “By Him that died on the tree; A more merry man than I am one Lives not in Christianity.

“Pluck up thy heart, my dear master,” Little John did say, “And think that it is a very fair time In a morning of May.”

“Yet one thing grieves me,” said Robin, “And does my heart much woe: That I may not on solemn days To mass or matins go.

One 15-Minute Intermission

CREATIVE TEAM

Director John DiAntonio Scenic Design Lindsay Fuori** Costume Design Erin Lavespere Lighting Design MacKenzie Mulligan Sound Design Max Silverman Fight Director Chris Van Winkle Choreographer Teonna Wesley Dialect Coach Rebecca Bossen Fight Captain Matt Zambrano Intimacy Choreographer Jenni Harbour Assistant Director Adam Lamb EDI Deputy Samwell Rose

STAGE MANAGEMENT

Stage Manager Wilhelm Peters* Asst. Stage Manager Miranda Ray Asst. Stage Manager Olivia Zapater-Charrette

CAST

Robin Hood/Ensemble Lavour Addison* Maid Marian/Ensemble Emily Van Fleet* Friar Tuck/Ensemble Matt Zambrano* Little John/Ensemble Tony King Doerwynn/Ensemble Caitlin Wise* Sir Guy of Gisbourne/ Chris Van Winkle Ensemble The Sheriff of Cameron Davis Nottingham/Ensemble Prince John/Ensemble Anne Faith Butler* Understudy Brittni Shambaugh Addison

Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com

Originally developed and produced at The Old Globe, Barry Edelstein, Artistic Director, Timothy J. Shields, Managing Director.

Content Information: This play contains some mild language, macabre descriptions of death, depictions of alcohol consumption, copious bows and arrows, and sword-fighting in the style of Errol Flynn.

** Terrence and Polly Jones Scenic Designer

CHUCK & KAY HARBERT