Written in 2017, Marian, or the True Tale of Robin Hood, by playwright Adam Szymkowicz, offers a comedic twist on the classic tale of Robin Hood. Robin Hood famously tells the tale of an outlaw who steals from the rich and gives to the poor, alongside a group of outlaws known as the Merry Men. The 2017 play retold the story by imagining Maid Marian as a female Robin Hood: disguised during the day, and emerging as the outlaw at will. She is placed at the center of the story in a way that challenges traditional gender roles and explores themes of sexuality and identity. Szymkowicz showcases these themes by using humor to highlight the fluidity of gender and sexuality.
Luna Magnasco-Fariñas, who plays Robin Hood/Maid Marian in this production, perfectly embodies the essence of both characters that she plays. She accurately portrays two roles, living two completely different lives despite being the same person. Through her performance, Fariñas captures both the comedic and empowering aspects of the character. In this adaptation, Robin Hood defies expectations that only men can be heroes or that women are nothing more than something that needs to be saved. Fariñas brought her own flair to Maid Marian’s character, adding a new layer of personality and depth that wasn’t properly developed in the base script. Little John, played by Mateusz Miarka, complemented Fariñas’ performance well. In the play, Little John is in love with Maid Marian, but his love for her is conflicted by the mistaken belief that Robin Hood and Maid Marian are dating, not realizing that they are actually the same person. This prospect added a layer of complexity to Robin Hood’s character, putting into perspective the double life she leads.
In this play, Robin Hood is a disguise for Maid Marian to be able to do things without having to face the prejudice and sexism that would have come with being a woman. However, Maid Marian also uses sexism in the play to help disguise her true identity, particularly in scenes with Prince John, played by Xander Gruszecki. She often used “lady issues” as an excuse to divert Prince John’s attention away from how long she’s been away to prevent any suspicion. Robin Hood is also a figure of hope to those in need and serves as a mentor to the Merry Men.
Alanna Dale, portrayed by Fiona Goodson, and Will Scarlet, played by Vanessa Gopaul, are two other characters who defy gender stereotypes in the play. Alanna Dale is first introduced to us as a lady-in-waiting who hopes to become the first female to win an archery competition, driven by her desire to become like Robin Hood. Will Scarlet is a Merry Man who conceals her identity as a woman. Gopaul does a great job at showcasing the struggles of having to conceal her femininity while also navigating her new identity as a man. Goodson delivers a performance that is nothing short of excellent, with her timing and delivery of certain lines playing a key role in the comedic effect of the production. Throughout the show, Scarlet is conflicted with having to reveal how she actually feels, but in an effort to appear more masculine, she often says things that contradict how she actually feels. The chemistry between Alanna Dale and Will Scarlet is undeniable; as the story progresses, the audience can feel the romantic tension between the two. Both actors perfectly convey the complexity of their relationship, particularly as they both conceal their true identities until the reveal later in the play. As the couple navigates their new identities, they also add to the confusion themselves, because they both believe the other to be of the opposite gender.
Some notable mentions are the friendship between Lady Shirley, played by Arina Limarieva, and Maid Marian; the chemistry between the two actors was really great, it seemed almost lifelike in a way. Lady Shirley contributes many of the show’s funniest moments through her sharp wit and confident, flirtatious presence, despite her official role not being quite as big as others like Alanna Dale; the way she carried herself made the character quite memorable. It was also quite evident how much work the production team put into this play, with all the quick outfit changes Fariñas had, as well as the beautiful set.
Overall, the BHSEC ensemble did an amazing job at bringing the characters to life while also adding their own interpretations of the character. They delivered a memorable performance that kept the audience engaged throughout the play.