Actors' Theatre of Columbus to present a reimagined 'Robin Hood'
A more romantic and socially conscious retelling of a legendary adventure fable will launch Actors’ Theatre of Columbus’ 42nd season.
The world premiere of “Robin Hood,” co-written by Artistic Director Philip J. Hickman and his wife, Mikelle Hickman-Romine, will open May 25 in Schiller Park’s amphitheater.
Thirteen actors play 20 characters in the two-act production.
“Our aspirational stage version imagines how it might have been as we create identifiable characters people can relate to today,” said Hickman, also the director. “Our story has many sword fights and moments of romance in the midst of conflict, showing that really fun things can happen even when we’re trying to be serious and explore justice."
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How do the co-writers see the classic tale?
Beginning in 2021 and going through four script drafts, the co-writers brainstormed the possibilities of a fresh and timely retelling of the 13th-century English-folklore legend, about an outlaw hero of noble birth who leads a forest band to fight against tyranny and injustice.
“Our version focuses a great deal more on some of the community sympathies intrinsic to the story, but frequently overlooked when it’s portrayed as just a hero’s journey,” Hickman-Romine said. “This is more about power for the people, caring for the underclass and a portrait of the whole community."
In their alternative take on the familiar tale, Robin Hood doesn't lead the development of a hidden community of refugees, outlaws and rebels in Sherwood Forest, but joins one that has already developed.
“These people didn’t think they were getting a fair shake, so they took off to the forest, living off the land as refugees from tyranny,” Hickman said. “The community being formed can be a model for our own acceptance and collaboration with people in the community who may not be like us."
How does the lead actor approach the title role?
Robbie Davidson, 28, plays Robin Hood.
“This Robin Hood is very earnest, with a more serious tone than other versions. He really just wants to do the right thing,” he said.
Son of an English lord, Robin Hood grew up with Lady Marian (Adrianna Quiñones) as his childhood sweetheart. When his father dies, Robin returns from France to England to take control of his father’s lands, only to learn that Prince John seized the estate.
“Throughout the play, Robin loses one thing after another − first, his father, then his land, position and title, and then Marian. He wants to keep fighting to get back what’s rightfully his,” Davidson said.
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Robin’s positive view of English laws and royal traditions is shattered when Prince John attacks and wounds him.
“He has a coming-of-age awakening. Robin’s worldview gets turned upside down,” Davidson said.
Davidson identifies with the play’s theme of overcoming life’s challenges.
“Playing my character,” he said, “I can see how goodness can come out of times when you’re stripped of everything.”
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How do other characters enhance the tale?
Several other characters have been reimagined.
“Rather than just a drunk, Friar Tuck is elevated as a spiritual and moral leader,” Hickman-Romine said. “We also wanted to more richly represent the lives of other women in the community."
Most notable: the new character of Lady Rosa, based loosely on Eleanor of Aquitaine’s grandmother.
“Lady Rosa feels the conflict since she’s helping the sheriff to politically maneuver while also trying to be Marian’s friend and mentor,” Hickman-Romine said.
While most retellings focus only on the love between Robin and Marian, this play highlights additional romantic relationships.
Among them: a gay partnership between two of Robin’s Merry Men (robber Alan-a-Dale and former servant Will Scarlett), and Rosa’s affair/alliance with the Sheriff of Nottingham.
“Decisive, playful, careful and passionate, Rosa enjoys the freedom that her position and power give her,” said McLane Nagy, who plays Lady Rosa. “She’s not in the original canon of Robin Hood, but it’s really fun to play this noble lady of such high status that she’s able to get away with a very public relationship as the sheriff’s paramour."
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How does Hickman view his second 'Robin Hood'?
A fan of romantic adventure-fables, Hickman wrote “King Arthur and the Sword of Britain” (2013) and co-wrote “The Countess of Monte Cristo” (2016) for Actors' Theatre premieres.
Yet, after writing a swashbuckling version of “Robin Hood” for a 2012 Actors’ premiere, Hickman yearned to re-envision the tale in a more contemporary and relevant way.
“I wanted to go back to Sherwood Forest to revisit those ideas from a different perspective because I’ve grown as a person and a writer and the world is different today,” he said.
Although some scenes are similar, Hickman estimated the 2023 script as roughly 95% new.
“We ended up rewriting almost everything. ... Our play asks questions about what’s good, what’s bad and what it means to abuse authority,” Hickman said. “Every generation can have its own take on Robin Hood because it’s a really flexible story.”
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Actors' Theatre of Columbus to present 'Robin Hood' in Schiller Park
