Delta College drama ends its run of “Marian or the True Tale of Robin Hood” on Sunday, May 4.
The raunchy comedy reimagines the classic tale of Robin Hood with Lady Marian playing both her usual role and that of the legendary thief. The production, which tackles themes of identity, queer love, and class divide, is the second of the spring semester following “Fahrenheit 451” in February.
“I chose this last year and was really not anticipating the sort of climate of the world we’d be living in right now,” said director and drama professor Karen Vance highlighting some of the more progressive themes in the show.
“I think it really kind of pops out even though it’s not a fairy tale, but a moral story we all know,” said Vance. “To have a story about someone who robs from the rich to give to the poor and about treating people kindly and equally.”
While the shift of focus to Marian may seem like a modern addition it actually isn’t unprecedented. In earlier tales of Robin Hood featuring Marian she disguised herself as a knight in order to pass through Sherwood Forest safely.
“There is this conceit of this woman disguising as a man to achieve a level of autonomy,” said Vance. “So what if we take that a step further.”
This focus on identity and how it affects social boundaries becomes a strong theme within the play itself.
“Identity is the driving force in the show,” said Zero Martin, who plays Marian/Robin in the show. “It applies to everyone, especially our little john, Identity isn’t just for gender it’s about expression.”
In addition to Marian taking on the position of the legendary outlaw, the play also features non-binary characters and a Lesbian relationship.
“It’s a mixture of gender identity and sexuality and how it ties into your role in society,” said Reina Morales Garcia who plays the role of Alanna Dale, who joins the merrymen and slowly falls in love with Will Scarlett played by Jackey Castro.
“It gives a contemporary lens, that we can look at the stories that are very familiar to us with,” said Vance, noting the importance of a figure like Robin Hood in our modern day. “With the economy being the way it is right now, we all enjoy a story of someone who’s there to help us out.
The show features several action-packed scenes as one might expect from an adaptation of Robin Hood.
“I wanted a show that was gonna be really physical,” said Vance, who also teaches Drama 33, a stage combat course. “For the kids to really utilize these new skills that they’ve been working on.”
Additionally the soundtrack includes medieval renditions of modern pop music including several songs from artists such as Chappell Roan.
The final performances of Marian will be May 2 and May 3 at 7 p.m. and April 29 and May 4 at 2 p.m. with tickets being $7 for general admission and $5 for students
