Review Robin Hood: The Arrow of Destiny

The summer production for the Royal seems to be a reflection of the season so far – a rather damp squib. And one of the main reasons is that it is a show with an identity crisis. A pantomime? Not quite. A musical? Well, sort of. A drama? To a degree.

The plot, such as it is, centres around a hugely amiable Robin Hood, who is completely hopeless at all the things at which he is supposed to excel. The lad in Lincoln Green couldn’t even fight his way out of a Primark carrier bag. So it is up to Maid Marian to save the day by putting on red tights and jerkin, and pretending to be valiant Will Scarlet.

The sub-plots are that Robin’s mum is also in his band of Merry Men, and in love with Friar Tuck, and that Marian is assisted in her quest to vanquish the evil Sheriff of Nottingham by the spirit of the forests, The Oak King. In effect, a talking tree. Richard Hurford’s script sputters occasionally into life, a bit like a much-loved but vintage family car that has been in a wet garage for far too long. For youngsters there are a few bum jokes and for others there are some puns and one-liners, but the script doesn’t serve his cast well.

Neil Reynolds makes his stage debut as Robin, and tries his best to inject some passion into a cardboard character. It is a shame because he is clearly worthy of much more. And that fine performer John Elkington is left to puzzle over his role of the Sheriff – is he supposed to be languidly camp, dastardly evil, or a preening popinjay? It appears he hasn’t been told, and he is not alone.

On the positive side, there is much excellent puppetry, and a pretty scary monster, but the final applause reminded me of the ritual cheering with which observers from the safety of dry land offer encouragement to the passengers on a sinking ship.

To September 2.