Robin in the Hood A Musical Re-imagining of the Legend of Robin Hood Book, Music and Lyrics by Bob Janas Copyright © 2006 by Robert Janas Any use, reproduction or distribution of this material or any portion of it without the expressed written consent of the author and copyright owner is strictly prohibited. 2 Synopsis of Scenes and Musical Numbers Act I Prologue: England, 1189 (and various other settings) 1. “Merry, Merry Old-e England”………….………The Singers Scene 1: A clearing in Sherwood Forest, outside Nottingham; around mid-day (a few years later) 2. “Brotherhood of Thieves”……………………….Bob, Will, Much Scene 2: Pox-on-Yew, a poor peasant village just outside Sherwood Forest; later that afternoon 3. “What a Guy”……………………………………Bob, Will, Much, Villagers Scene 3: Nottingham Castle, the Sheriff’s chambers; that evening 4. “Serfs Up”………………………………………The Sheriff, Alan a’Dale Scene 4: The Prancing Pig tavern, in the kitchen; evening, a couple of weeks later 5. “Waitin’ on You”……………….........................Mattie, Bob Scene 5: The Prancing Pig, in the main room; immediately following 6. “Robin in the Hood”……………………………..Alan a’Dale, The Singers, Peasants 7. “Robin in the Hood: Reprise”……………………Alan a’Dale Scene 6: The apartments of Lady Marian, the Royal Palace, London; afternoon, the next day 8. “Who’ll Help the Maiden?”……………………..Marian, The Singers Scene 7: A path in Sherwood Forest; early evening, a couple of weeks later Scene 8: The Prancing Pig; later that evening 9. “Song of the Merry Men”……………………....The Merry Men 10. “We’re Robin’s Merry Men”…………………..The Outlaws Scene 9: The edge of Sherwood Forest; noon, a few weeks later 11. “A Walk in the Woods”...……………………...Bob, Marian 12. “That’s What Love Will Do”…………………..Mattie, Little John, Flip, Shirley Scene 10: Nottingham Castle, the Sheriff’s chambers; later that day Scene 11: The public square in Nottingham; mid-afternoon, a few weeks later 13. “Robin Victorious”………………………….....Ensemble 14. “Robin in the Hood: Reprise”……………....…Little John Act II Entr’acte: 15. “Merry, Merry Old-e England: Reprise”.….....The Singers Scene 1: The reception hall, Huntingdon Castle; mid-morning, several weeks later 16. “Nobility”………………………....................Richard, The Sheriff, Gisbourne, Bob Scene 2: A clearing in Sherwood Forest; late afternoon, the same day 17. “What’s Happened to Our World?”………….The Outlaws Scene 3: The Earl’s chambers, Huntingdon Castle; mid-morning, a few weeks later Scene 4: At and near an execution ground on the estate of Huntingdon 18. “Requiem”……………………………………The Singers Scene 5: A clearing in Sherwood Forest; later that day 19. “When You Believe”……………………….…Bob, Mattie Scene 6: Nottingham Castle, the Sheriff’s chambers; early evening, a few months later Scene 7: A clearing in Sherwood Forest; noon the next day 20. “Wedding March”……………………………The Outlaws 21. “Sword’s Point”………………………………Bob, Gisbourne Scene 8: The Priory of Kirklees; later that day 22. “Liebestod Waltz”……………………………Marian, Mattie Scene 9: A clearing in Sherwood Forest; a few months later 23. “We’re Robin’s Merry Men: Reprise”……….The Outlaws Epilogue: 24. “Merry, Merry Old-e England: Reprise”.….…The Singers 3 Dramatis Personae The Saxons: Robert (“Bob”) of Loxley….………………a yeoman outlaw Will Scarlet….……………………………..an outlaw, companion to Bob Much the Miller’s Son….………………….an outlaw, companion to Bob Mathilda (“Mattie”) Hobbe….……………..an innkeeper’s daughter John Little (“Little John”)….……………….an outlaw leader Master Hobbe….…………………………..an innkeeper, father to Mattie Red Rory, Bruce the Bruce, Flip, Shirley….……………………………..outlaws (“The Merry Men”) Friar Tuck….……………………………....an itinerant country friar Tom Watlin, his wife and son….……….......poor peasants The Normans: Richard I….………………………………..King of England Sir Humphrey….…………………………...a noble attending King Richard Prince John….……………………………...younger brother to King Richard Mortimer, Montague….…………………….henchmen of Prince John Queen Eleanor….…………………………..mother to Richard and John Sir Guy of Gisbourne….…………………….a knight Sir William de Wendenal….………………...Sheriff of Nottingham Alan a’Dale….……………………………...minstrel and advisor to the Sheriff Lady Marian Fitzwalter….…………………..a young noblewoman Hildegard….…………………………………maid to Lady Marian Claggett….…………………………………..an Under-Sheriff Others: The Singers The Narrator Messenger Ship Captain Waiter Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor Reb Mordecai, a Jewish moneylender Street vendor Herald Blodgett, clerk to the Earl of Huntingdon Various knights, nobles, soldiers, Sheriff’s men, peasants, townspeople, musicians, etc. 4 Act I, Prologue (Lights come up D.S.L. on a quartet of Singers – two men, two women.) 1. “Merry Merry Old-e England” Singers: Come along while we sing our song And tell you how were things then In days of old when the knights were bold In merry, merry old-e England Hey, ho, Derry-down, doe Merry, merry old-e England Hey, ho, Derry-down, doe Merry, merry old-e England (Instrumental music continues, then fades out. Lights go down on Singers. Lights up D.S.R. as the Narrator [Alan a’Dale] enters and addresses the audience.) Narrator: England, in the year of our Lord eleven hundred and eighty-nine; one hundred and twenty-three years since William, Duke of Normandy, crossed the English Channel from France and conquered this land and its Saxon people. For generations the lower classes have chafed under the oppressive rule of their Norman overlords. But now, Richard Plantagenet, the Lionheart, eldest surviving son of King Henry the Second and Eleanor of Aquitaine, greatest soldier of the age, hero of the troubadours, has ascended to the throne as King Richard the First. The people wait, in hushed anticipation, to hear the words of their new king, the one man who can unite the peoples of England and usher in a new golden age of freedom, justice and tolerance. (Lights down on Narrator. Lights up on main stage. A crowd of peasants is gathered C.S.R. to C.S. before a balcony, S.L. A herald stands beneath the balcony, flanked by two soldiers holding spears. A trumpet sounds. King Richard enters on the balcony, accompanied by Sir Humphrey and several other nobles and soldiers. He smiles and waves to the crowd. The crowd just stands there, looking up at him disinterestedly. Richard looks puzzled. Humphrey gestures to the herald and soldiers below. The soldiers lower their spears at the crowd, and the herald holds up a large scroll bearing the word Applause in large letters. The crowd gives out a brief, half- hearted cheer. Richard smiles and holds up his hand.) Richard: Peuple de l’Angleterre! Mes sujets fidèles! Je vous promets qu'I, Richard Premier, Coeur de Lion, sera roi de toutes mes personnes... même vous les porcs modestes de Saxon. [Translation: “People of England! My faithful subjects! I promise you that I, Richard the First, the Lionheart, will be king of all the people...even you lowly Saxon pigs.”] 5 1st Peasant: What’d he say? 2nd Peasant: Who knows? 3rd Peasant: Can’t understand a bleedin’ word. 4th Peasant: (Hiding in the back.) Speak English, you bloody Frog! Richard: (Puzzled, to Humphrey.) Signeur Humphrey…qu'est signifié par…le “frog”? Humphrey: (Hesitantly.) Eh…il signifié…“la grenouille”. Richard: “La grenouille”?! (Turning to the crowd and drawing his sword.) I will give you “la grenouille”! I will give you your English, you Saxon peasant dogs! (Richard starts to crawl over the balcony, while his nobles attempt to restrain him. A messenger arrives, D.S.L.) Messenger: Your Highness! The Pope has called for a new Crusade to recapture the Holy Land! Richard: Une Croisade?! (He climbs back off the railing and raises his sword.) Vive la guerre! Nous allons…à Jérusalem! (Richard rushes out, followed by all of the nobles and soldiers.) 1st Peasant: Now where’s he going? 2nd Peasant: Who knows? Good riddance. (The crowd of peasants begins to disperse.) 3rd Peasant: Well, we better get back to work, before they bring out the boiling oil. 4th Peasant: I hate the boiling oil. 1st Peasant: Would you rather be put on the rack? 4th Peasant: Hey, at least you get to lie down… (The peasants exit. Lights down on main stage. Lights up D.S.L. on Singers.) Singers: Peasants work in the fields all day Their hair is gold and flaxen Slavin’, toilin’ their lives away A-wishin’ they weren’t Saxon 6 Hey, hey, nonney, nah, nay Hey there, nonney, nonney Hey, hey, nonney, nah, nay Hey there, nonney, nonney (Lights down on Singers. Lights up D.S.R. on Narrator.) Narrator: Our gallant warrior-king sets sail for the Holy Land with a mighty host, determined to liberate Jerusalem from the Saracen hordes of Saladin. As the opposing armies meet in mortal combat before the walls of the coastal fortress of Acre, Richard is in the thick of the fray, inspiring his men with noble deeds of valor. (Lights down on Narrator. Lights up on main stage. Richard is C.S. standing over a fallen Saracen warrior, hacking at the body with his sword.) Richard: Prenez cela…et cela! Take that…and that…and… (A Yeoman archer [Bob] enters S.R.) Yeoman: Hold, sir! That man is already dead. Richard: (Pausing.) Not dead enough for me! (He returns to hacking at the corpse.) Yeoman: (Crossing to Richard.) For Godsakes, sir! (Putting his hand on Richard’s sword arm.) Have you no Christian decency?! (Richard turns on the Yeoman, who sees the triple-lion crest on Richard’s tunic and backs away.) Yeoman: Sire! I… Richard: You dare to lay hands on moi, your sovereign King?! You peasant pisspot! Yeoman: I…I’m not a peasant. I’m a yeoman. Richard: Ah, a little turd of the middle class. I will cut off your bourgeois balls for your insolence! (Richard raises his sword. The Yeoman takes a step back and aims his bow at him.