Michael Reinmiller

Lady Shirley praises the Sheriff of Nottingham, in an attempt to get information from him.

Four archers take center stage. A young woman, a knight, a brute and an old man. Each sends an arrow at the target, but only one has impeccable precision, splintering the arrow of their previous opponent right into the center. Bullseye. This shot belongs to none other than the old man. However, the archer underneath this ragged appearance isn’t who one might think…rather, it’s the notorious Robin Hood, in one of his many disguises.

On Oct. 3, 4 and 6, the LSE Theater Department performed the comedic yet heartfelt play, “Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood,” which is a retelling of the classic tale that’s been known and loved for centuries.

This fresh take on the beloved “Robin Hood” tells the story of Maid Marian and her courageous alter ego, Robin Hood, who is actually Marian disguised as a man. The play follows Marian and her swashbuckling crew of Merry Men, who go to great lengths to protect one another and take down the prince and his kingdom.

The story visits the patriarchal aspects of society, and portrays how sometimes hiding who we are limits us in ways we never expected. This is seen through Prince John’s narrow-minded personality, which causes him to believe that any and all women would be delighted to take his hand in marriage, while remaining subservient. Because women are oppressed in this society, characters such as Marian, Alanna Dale and Will Scarlett felt obliged to conceal their true colors, and posed as male archers for the duration of the show.

While there were some rather serious elements of this play, the cast made sure to tie in some quick-witted humor that continuously cut the tension, and drew unanimous chuckles from the audience. Prominent roles portrayed by LSE junior Grayson Crabtree (Prince John), senior Aolani Wilson (Lady Shirley), senior Quincy Soto (Little John), and lead actress, senior Kaitlyn Halada (Robin/Marian), all brought delightful humor and impressive acting skills to the show.

Another noteworthy aspect of the play was the attractive but functional set. The intent was to create an elaborate and artistic portrayal of the prince’s castle and Sherwood Forest (the latter being a gathering place for Robin Hood’s Merry Men), and the run crew and set designers did a wonderful job of executing this. The spotlight was also strategically placed on the characters during each scene, which really helped the audience to feel immersed in the show.

As one might imagine, for lead actress Halada, keeping the two distinct roles of Robin Hood and Marian separate proved to be a challenging task. Marian is quite the proper lady. She dresses well, has impeccable manners and appears to ‘care for’ the prince. However, quick with a bow and arrow, and sharp as a tack, Robin Hood’s ferocious personality couldn’t contrast more with Marian’s polite one, making it hard to portray both characters.

Acting as these combined roles also posed another problem for Halada…one that actually occurred in the dressing room. From hunting gear to sophisticated gowns, the actress encountered several wardrobe issues. However, she was remarkably able to change costumes quite flawlessly. Although it’s no surprise that she’s capable. Her participation in nearly every other show since she was a freshman in high school really helped her to prepare for this unique role.

Last but not least, a portion of the show that I believed to be quite impressive was the fighting. Not only were members of both the main and ensemble casts quick and talented with realistic swords, but the physical combat was impressive as well. For instance, in a comedic scene featuring Little John and Robin Hood, the two become engaged in a wrestling match which appeared very authentic, even down to the pained sounds of surrender the actors made.

LSE Theater Director, Katie Frankforter, and the cast of “Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood” have done a splendid job with the first performance of the school year, and we eagerly await to see what will follow.

For those who attended and enjoyed the fall play, the excitement continues with LSE’s winter show, “Almost Maine.” This passionate story follows nine different couples and their journeys to finding love and forging friendships. Auditions for the show are Oct. 16 and 17, and the performances will take place Dec. 5, 7 and 8.