SAPOS

The New Legend of Robin Hood

Book, Music, and Lyrics by Andy Brown and Steve Williamson

“It’s the twelfth century. England, once a proud and honourable land is now held in the clutches of terror. Freedom of speech is a thing of the past. An evil force sweeps through the land, crushing everything in its path. England, where proud men once toiled the fertile land, is slowly dying, ravaged by ignorance and greed. Can this evil be opposed? Many think not. Many, but not all. One man’s belief is often not enough to change anything. But where that belief inspires others, there is hope. There once lived such a man. His name was Robin Hood.”

ACT ONE – The play opens with the Outlaw women and children being terrorized by Sir Guy of Gisborne, henchman to the Sheriff of Nottingham. He and his soldiers ransack the village, leaving the women to pray for the safety of the Outlaw men who are somewhere deep in Sherwood Forest. Upon Gisborne’s return, the Sheriff swears vengeance on the Outlaws of Sherwood Forest and fantasizes about his ascent to the throne of England. The Outlaw women and children search Sherwood Forest for their loved ones, unaware that in another part of the forest, the men are quite safe, enjoying a their late-night revelry. The men awake to poor spirits and begin to doubt that they will ever succeed in providing for their women and children. Robin Hood appears and when the Outlaws demand he pay a tax to cross the river, he is forced to fight Little John. The fight is a draw, and the Outlaws describe the atrocities the Sheriff has been inflicting on the people of Sherwood Forest. Robin is shocked to hear of the Sheriff’s impending marriage to his long-lost love, Maid Marian, and he vows to join the Outlaws efforts to restore order and in turn, rescue Marian from the Sheriff’s clutches. Meanwhile, Marian and her handmaiden Victoria meet the Outlaw women and children and learn of the poverty the Sheriff has inflicted upon them. The Sheriff’s soldiers appear to arrest them, but Robin Hood arrives, fighting off the Sheriff’s soldiers and rescuing the women and children. Robin and Marian exchange vows of love moments before Robin escapes and Gisborne takes Marian to face the Sheriff. Enraged by the news of this “good samaritan” the Sheriff and Gisborne concoct a bow-and-arrow contest to lure Robin Hood to his death. In Sherwood Forest, Robin reunites the Outlaw women and children with the men, and they all join in support of Robin Hood and the crusade to overthrow the oppressive Sheriff of Nottingham.

ACT TWO – A few weeks later, Robin and the Outlaws have stolen back their riches from the Sheriff’s convoys. They are overjoyed by their great fortune, and when Friar Tuck stumbles upon this happy place he is besieged with the story of a truly honorable and courageous hero: Robin Hood. The Friar is then introduced to Robin in person and he quickly informs him of the “Silver Arrow Show” that is being held in Nottingham. Friar Tuck joins the band of Outlaws in their fight against the Sheriff, and they set off to enact their revenge. Arriving at the bow-and-arrow contest, Robin (in disguise) quickly impresses the crowd with his archery skills. He wins, and as he reveals himself the Sheriff orders that he be put to death. Pandemonium ensues and Robin and the Outlaws barely escape. The Sheriff announces that he and Marian will be wed the following day at noon. The next day Robin and the Outlaws interrupt the wedding and the Sheriff and Robin engage in a fight to the death. The next day, King Richard the Lionheart returns to restore order to his kingdom and bless the marriage of Robin Hood and Marian. The people of Nottingham and Sherwood Forest rejoice in their newly won freedom from the tyranny of the Sheriff.