When Ralph announced auditions for the Trials of Robin Hood I knew immediately that I wanted the lead role. Except that in this particular story about Robin Hood there are 3 versions of Robin Hood: Traditional Robin Hood, Lovelorn Robin Hood and Hoodlum Robin Hood. Ralph also announced that he may cast 3 different actors, instead of having one actor play them all. Well, I set out to convince Ralph that it was better to cast one actor in all 3 roles and that I was that actor. You guessed it. After several readings and auditions, I won the role of all 3 Robin Hoods! Be careful what you wish for but also sometimes what you wish for can be a great opportunity…and a lot of fun too. In this play, I have over 300 lines to memorize, at least 5 different costume changes, 5 different voices, and 5 battle scenes, but I’ve loved every minute of it. To help learn all those lines, I offer to drive anyone that needs to go anywhere to their destination and as they get in the car I hand them a script, take the long way to the destination and get in lots of line rehearsals. I think some of my passengers could easily serve as an understudy they’ve read the other parts so many times. But I have to admit that the most fun so far has been practicing the battle scenes. I mean do we ever really outgrow the love of swordplay? My favorite battle reminds me of a classic swashbuckling scene from the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn. I have a very long complicated set of lines that I must deliver as I’m on a staircase fending off 3 of Prince John’s lackeys. There are other moments that remind me of the classic Robin Hood moves but you’ll have to come see if you can spot them yourself during our performances the first two weekends of November! Huzzah and I think my mother needs to take a trip out to the Doral Publix. Are you sure you don’t need to go to Homestead?
