Playwright Guy Langford and director Fingal Pollock honour The KidzStuff tradition of putting a new twist in an old tale. This Robyn Hood steals from the rich to top up the incomes of women denied pay equity by a very selfie-involved Sheriff – and she aligns a like-minded team to achieve social justice.

That Katherine Wyeth’s Robyn happens to be noticeably pregnant is, I’m told, a serendipitous enhancement; we all know now that that’s no barrier to getting the job done (although every case on its merits, given some women can have very debilitating pregnancies – but I digress: this is a folk tale with a pinch of political satire!).

This Robyn is no strutting ‘Wonder Woman’ version of a male superhero: she’s kind, considerate, compassionate and determined to see justice done. And she loves archery, at which she excels.  Fortunately the Sheriff’s ego and greed – well captured by David Allen with his (own) American accent – makes him reasonably easy to predict and trick. And his Henchmen (Danielle Parsons and Hannah Maison) are so fearful and muddled they are even easier to trick.

Parsons also plays Little Joan who initially masquerades as a man to get the higher pay rate for guarding the bridge, and of course Robyn is also pretending to be a bloke, with a bit of a puku, so they both have to go through the (slow)motions of a stave fight regarding the bridge.

Hannah Maison morphs into a pent-up ball of vengefulness called Scarlett, snarling at the very mention of “Sheriff”; furious that she’s had to steal a loaf of bread because, as a woman, she can’t afford to buy it. She needs some coaching to channel her anger to serve the trio’s greater purpose.

Then who should turn up but Robyn’s partner Max (Allen), father of her unborn child, who has been in prison at the Sheriff’s pleasure. Jean and Scarlett are wary at first but decide he’s on their side; a good man.

There is a splendid sequence where the Sheriff is bereft of ideas but as soon as one of his minions has a good one, he claims it as his own. Thus the plan is hatched to change the ‘Wanted – Reward!’ posters to one advertising an archery competition, knowing Robyn could not resist the challenge.

She turns up to the tournament in the guise of Bruno Mars and (spoiler alert – but this is for parents and caregivers to know what they’re taking their kids to) not only wins the prize purse with a cleverly contrived split arrow effect, but Little Joan and Scarlet, disguised as Sheriff’s Henchmen, expose Robyn and claim the reward money – before revealing themselves and the coup that has quietly occurred. Quiet, that is, apart for the farts that afflict the Sheriff in the face of great anxiety.

The play is peppered with gentle songs, to recorded music by Amalia and Chrysalynn Calder, which often get the kids on their feet to move about before settling on the floor again.

ROBYN HOOD and her Merry Gals! Confidently engages its young audience – and those who brought them – and offers plenty of talking points for those so inclined.

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