The Theater Group at Santa Barbara City College showcased a preview of their new play “Ken Ludwig’s Sherwood The Adventures of Robin Hood” on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the Garvin Theatre.

The production, directed by Katie Laris, brought humor and lightheartedness to the classic tale of Robin Hood. Set in 1194 in Sherwood Forest, England, this two-hour play goes over Robin Hood’s exploits. When confronted with injustice and poverty, Robin of Locksley, born noble and wealthy, took control of his life and helped the most unfortunate, becoming an outlaw, later known as Robin Hood.

Seeing this play as a young adult made me revisit my childhood as I used to love the Robin Hood Disney Animation. These beloved characters immediately made me enjoy the play, and the cast’s enthusiasm and proximity to the audience made me love it all the more by giving it a new breath through allusions and jokes.

Because of my attachment to these classic characters, the play got me hooked the second it started. 

The play opened with a suspenseful scene before the narrator, Friar Tuck, took us back to where it all started, Robin Hood’s birth. The opening scene captured my attention right away as it worried me about the character’s fate and made me want to dive faster into the story.

The public was immersed in the play as characters walked around the rows of the theatre and spoke directly to audience members throughout the show. This immersion emphasizes the humoristic aspect of the play by breaking the fourth wall and the rigidity often installed in the theater. It made me more invested and eager to learn about the play and its characters.

I found the duo of the Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisbourne, portrayed respectively by Tyler Gilbert and Sean O’Shea especially enjoyable. The Sheriff provides comic relief in tense scenes through his priceless facial expressions and gestures, while Sir Guy attempts to give orders and remain serious. The contrast between these two characters—rarely separated from one another—is brilliant.

I was struck by the vibrancy and the flow of the cast, but their precision and diction, despite their foreign British accent, still managed to surprise me. As an international student, I know how hard it can sometimes be to keep up with an accent and different pronunciations, so I was really in awe of their ability to keep a perfect accent for the two hours it lasted.

I feel like costumes are key elements of this play considering that disguise is at the heart of Robin Hood’s strategies. This play embodied that vital part of the protagonist with smooth changes in the set and costumes.

Overall, I had a great time and would recommend anyone who has the opportunity to go, to check it out.

The play will be in the theater from Feb. 28 to March 15, Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.