Type: traditional musical comedy; intended for family
Time: 1191 A.D.
Setting: Sherwood Forest and Nottingham Castle, England
Main Characters:

Robin Hood baritone
Maid Marian mezzo soprano
Prince John comedian who can hold pitch
Sheriff of Nottingham comedian who can hold pitch
King Richard bass-baritone
Nurse alto
Alan a Dale tenor
Much the Miller baritone
Friar Tuck comedian who can hold pitch
Little John bass, baritone, or tenor

Ensemble: (with doubling and trebling of parts)
Female (4-10): Bluebird, Belinda, Norma, wives of Merry Men, peasants, pantaloon role doubles as guards.
Male: (6-10): Jackdaw, Raven, Will Scarlet, Merry Men, palace guards, peasants, Adam, Gill, jester, Richard’s guards

Orchestra: 1 percussion; 1 French horn; 1 flute; 1 oboe; 1 bassoon; synthesizer or sampler piano (for harspichord, lute, orchestral fill); 3 violins; 1 viola; 2 cellos.

ACT I

Scene 1 Sherwood Forest. Marian and Nurse introduced passing through on way to Nottingham. Robin, Tuck introduced. Tuck recruited with story exposition of oppression and creation of Sherwood Merry Men.

Scene 2 Castle Throne Room. Introduction of Prince John and Sheriff as comic villains plotting to dethrone King Richard. Sheriff is to marry Marian to secure her lands.

Scene 3 Sherwood Forest. Lay out remainder of exposition. Bring in wives. Robin’s deferral of love and marriage until freedom secured. Fight at the Bridge with Little John.

Scene 4 Castle Throne Room. John and Sheriff plot to capture Robin Hood with archery contest at May Fair. Marian and Nurse arrive. Marian, never having experienced true love, is calculating in marriage plans. Nurse lectures her to follow her heart.

Scene 5 May Fairgrounds. Robin in one of his many disguises wins archery contest, tricks John and Sheriff, and leaves with Marian and Nurse as hostages

 

ACT II

Scene 1 Sherwood Forest. Unspoken love has blossomed between Robin and Marian. Robin refuses to leave England but will fight to his death.

Scene 2 Sherwood Forest. John and Sheriff lead an army, disguised as husband and wife. Merry Men lure army away. Robin as wife and Tuck as husband confront the villains. Marian and Nurse are delivered over as promised in Act I, Scene 5.

Scene 3 Castle Throne Room (or garden side set) Wedding date is set for marriage of Sheriff and Marian. Marian overhears plot to kill Robin when he arrives for rescue.

Scene 4 Sherwood Forest. Robin regrets Marian’s departure. King Richard arrives disguised as a monk. He speaks of the futility of religious wars and the wages of leaving the land that was in his charge. Robin knows of Marian’s wedding. Tuck inadvertently gives him the solution to foiling the affair and putting Richard back on the throne.

Scene 5 Castle Throne Room. Robin enters disguised as jester. Tuck leads monks (Richard and his men) in. Battle progresses to stand-off. Robin beats Sheriff in one-on-one duel. Robin and Marian are wed by Richard. Robin has his title and lands restored. Sheriff and Prince John receive just punishments. The cast sings the moral.

Approximate running time: 2 hours, 30 minutes including intermission.

This show relies heavily on ensemble and provides many numbers for choral singing and for country-style dancing.