Thursday, October 21, 1993
Ventura West Edition
Section: Ventura County Life
Page: J-4
THEATER REVIEW / 'ROCKIN' ROBIN HOOD';
Elvis Adds Modern Twist to a Merry Olde English Legend;
The King of Rock 'n' Roll confronts the Sheriff of Nottingham in a deftly executed romp at Moorpark
Melodrama.
By: TODD EVERETT
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES
Sideburns and ducktails invade Sherwood Forest in "Rockin' Robin Hood," an original musical written and directed
by Scott Martin now playing at the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama and Vaudeville Company. The legends of the
Merry Men and Elvis Presley will both survive this burlesque, which is good fun, performed by a cast including
some of the best singers in recent Moorpark Melodrama memory.
The basic story will be familiar to just about everybody: Gentle King Richard is off on the Crusades, with his evil
brother, John, planning to assume the throne permanently. Out in the country, the Sheriff of Nottingham is helping
Prince John's nefarious work. Protecting the poor citizenry is a motley band of outlaws headed by nobleman Robin
of Loxley, known to the rabble as Robin Hood.
Martin has added his own twists. Swivel-hipped Robin leads a vocal group that also includes Will Scarlett, Little John
and Friar Tuck, whose singing is dismissed as elementary by Victoria, leader of a group of poodle-skirted women
who themselves are dedicated to cleaning up the countryside. Before long, members of her group and the Merry
Men are joined in arms--as well as other body parts. While abhorring the peasants' ducktail haircuts, Prince John is
peeved because he hasn't been invited to the Nottingham sock hop. Maybe it has something to do with his policy of
overtaxing the populace, or simply stealing from them--"Who says that you can't make a decent living in law
enforcement?" inquires the Sheriff of Nottingham.
George Thomas, a Canadian who has worked professionally as an Elvis impersonator (but who looks more like
Bruce Springsteen) plays Robin with good humor and a fine voice; his Merry Men are Jason Prince (Scarlett), James
Harlow (Little John) and Robert Porter (Friar Tuck). Victoria (Kimberly Decker) is abetted by Dot (Alisa Nelson),
Coral (Sara Wilkey) and Sister Kapp (Abigail Jones). Jason Narvy and Damian Gravino play Prince John and the
Sheriff of Nottingham, with David Barry and Hiram Johnson as the Sheriff's comic flunkies. Vying with Victoria for
Robin's affection is another traditional character, Maid Marian (Tina Dearing).
The choreography (credited to Erin Appling and Michelle Arnott) is especially physical, with the cast pulling it off
most of the time, and covering amusingly when they don't. Martin's script is inventive and pretty funny throughout,
though grandparents may have to explain the "Howdy Doody" and "Kukla, Fran & Ollie" references to the
youngsters.
The post-show "vaudeville" revue this time is a tribute to Elvis Presley, with various cast members performing the
King's songs. Highlights include a truly wacky selection of movie soundtrack material ("Girl Happy," "Follow That
Dream" "G.I. Blues") in addition to the more usual stuff, and ventriloquist Kathi Janca Sowell's interpretation of
"Teddy Bear."