BABES IN THE WOOD by Nicholas Pegg. Harrogate Theatre to 12 January.
Harrogate
BABES IN THE WOOD
by Nicholas Pegg
Harrogate Theatre To 12 January 2002
Runs 2hr 35min One interval
TICKETS 01423 502116
Review Timothy Ramsden 19 December
A well-practised Dame and Villain are stars of this show.Let's hope the Babes enjoy their starring role in the title, as it's sometime before they get much of a mention in the story. Not that Robin Hood is much of the reason for this show. The storyline's there mainly to hang hisses, cheers and the dame out on display, though there's some neat enough shadow-play to open up the back-plot.
Nicholas Pegg's jokes ('Grow up, stupid.'/'I did grow up stupid.') have a fair groan-quotient and his script allows Tim Stedman's friendly Billy Redcap and Howard Chadwick's Friar Tuck to seem at times something of a Laurel and Hardy-like twosome. Sarah Desmond's Maid Marian has a true ladylike quality; no matter how rough the tumbling, like a lady she's always beautifully turned-out of the frying-pan or firing-line.
Edward York is a regular at Harrogate these days, and he treads the boards with never a foot out of place, revelling in his black costume and dungeon-like abode, where he gets high on audience hatred. York must be among the coolest of villainous customers come Christmas, a ready grin and a laid-back attitude exuding from him as he pads and snarls around. In the deeply unlikely case of an audience not hissing him soundly, you feel he'd be most upset.
His opposite is the ever active, effervescent Dame Henrietta Haddock. Alan McMahon swoops and swirls around the stage – and that's just his voice. Hyper-activity and a mind that clearly regards itself as quite clever enough for any world that might chance along distinguish Dame Haddock. The voice snatches eagerly at phrases; the tall, lean physique follows eagerly behind.
One's delighted the Babes end up safe, of course, and that our Robin's cheap disguise pays off at the archery contest, but its York and McMahon who steal the show.
Robin Hood: Deborah Bouchard
Friar Tuck: Howard Chadwick
Maid Marion: Sarah Desmond
Old Man/Little John/Mandragora/King Richard: Christian McKay
Dame Henrietta Haddock: Alan McMahon
Billy Redcap: Tim Stedman
Sheriff of Nottingham: Edward York
Ben: Williasm Lunch/Ashley Hartwell/Aidan Wray
Polly: Emily Nelson/Kimberley Grace/Hannah Black
Ben: William Lynch/Ashley Hartwell/Aidan Wray
Polly: Emily Nelson/Kimberley Carse/Hannah Black
Children: Helen Clarke, Harry Taylor, Jade Hodgson, Lucy Milnes, Dan McGhie, Charlotte Fowler, Madeleine Everingham, Amy-Jane Timbrell, Jessica Miley, Kate Rollerson/Rosa Hibbert-Keene, Harry Spencer, Emily Lawrenson, Natasha Welsh, Stephanie Evans, Katie Hawcraft, Micheala Wood, Grace Piechocki, Amy Price, Oliver Dingley/Amy Kermode, Lauren Godfrey, Katie Cleal-Child, Layla Wray, Isobel Frankeiss, Frances Johnson, Laura Askew, Jade Garlick, Samuel Addison, Nathan Garlick
Director: Lennox Greaves
Designer: Kate Stanton
Lighting: Paul Colley
Musical Director: Howard Gay
Choreographer: Beverley Edmunds
Fight director: Kevin McCurdy
2002-01-08 23:37:02