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Silly tale salutes Sherwood

NANAIMO - The Gabriola Players present Robin Hood and his Merry Men Nov. 27-29.
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Robin Hood

Robin Hood and his men try to foil the evil plans of the Sheriff of Nottingham during the Gabriola Players’ latest production.

The players present the panto Robin Hood and His Merry Men Nov. 27-29.

“Like all good pantos they are based on fairy tales and adventure stories,” said Miranda Holmes, director of the production.

Audience members will see all the iconic characters, including Maid Marian, Little John, Friar Tuck and Will Scarlet.

“They are just really, really silly in true panto tradition,” said Holmes. “There are a few little nods in different directions with elements of Monty Python and a little bit of Mel Brooks.”

Holmes said she focused on creating a “good family show.” The annual fall panto is the Gabriola Players’ major production of the year. It’s a musical with a twist on modern songs. People can hear hits by Abba, Queen and Aretha Franklin with lyrics rewritten for Robin Hood’s adventures.

The play begins when a young witness sees her parents arrested and dragged away by the Sheriff of Nottingham’s men. She wants to enlist Robin Hood’s help and join the fight. To infiltrate his band, she dresses as a boy.

Gabriola Players present Robin Hood and His Merry Men at the Gabriola community hall Nov. 27-29. Evening shows are 7 p.m. Nov. 27-28. Matinees are 2 p.m. Nov. 28-29. Tickets are $17 for adults or $5 children ages five to 12. Children under five are free with a donation to the food bank.

Tickets are available at http://gabriolaplayers.ca.

arts@nanaimobulletin.com