A lovely princess of thieves

YOU'VE HEARD of Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, haven't you? Well, Kevin Costner... or Bryan Adams if you are one who likes music. The tale of one man, who fought for the good of all men and for the love of one woman...the tale of one man who fought to uphold justice by breaking the law, remember?

Right! Now what if Robin was Robyn, a school girl from American International School, Chennai (AISC), who fell asleep and slipped into the Sherwood Forest (a la Alice in Wonderland)?

Imagination took wing on Thursday and Friday at the Music Academy when the AISC presented its annual play. `Robyn and Her Women of Sherwood' took centrestage, as they held the Sheriff of Nottingham and the audience hostage, with some lively song and dance sequences.

The story starts with Robyn and her women rescuing Princess Pip from the clutches of the Sheriff's men who call themselves the `Heavies.' Princess Pip is then inducted into the band of `Merry Women', but not before she meets and beats Little Joan in the qualifiers.

Robyn and Pip soon become friends (since they can't fall in love in this remix version of the tale) spending time with each other when the Sheriff's Heavies storm the scene to take Robyn hostage.

Just as she's about to be hanged, Robyn slips out of her slumberland, and is off to school.

In spite of its slow pace, the musical made for interesting viewing, thanks to the bunch of Grade 3 toddlers in the choir, who were totally disciplined and involved in their song. They were the cynosure of all eyes during the odd dull moments of the play.

The nasty Sheriff (Amar Kher) was the one who stole the show, ironically, in spite of him playing the unlikable tyrant. Robyn (Chelsea Theriault) and Pip (Philippa Briggs) did their bit, to keep the audience engaged.

But, the ones who really stole hearts in the show were the entertainers from the Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 2 who were all acrobatics and energy during their cameo appearance, just before the climax. With Timothy Madhukar's arrangements, and choreography by Prassanna and Irene of Swingers and lights by Mithran Devanesan, the musical directed by Richard Diamond, was quite a professional effort from production co-ordinator Jennie Croxford and Rebecca Morris.

By Sudhish Kamath

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