Marian or The True Tale of Robin Hood by Adam Szymkowicz

FULL LENGTH, PUBLISHED. (TEEN VERSION ALSO AVAILABLE) In this comedic new take on the classic tale, Robin Hood is and has always been Maid Marian in disguise. Robin/Marian leads a motley group of Merry Men (many of whom are not men) against the greedy Prince John. As the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, who will stand for the vulnerable if not Robin? Modern concerns and romantic entanglements clash...
FULL LENGTH, PUBLISHED. (TEEN VERSION ALSO AVAILABLE) In this comedic new take on the classic tale, Robin Hood is and has always been Maid Marian in disguise. Robin/Marian leads a motley group of Merry Men (many of whom are not men) against the greedy Prince John. As the poor get poorer and the rich get richer, who will stand for the vulnerable if not Robin? Modern concerns and romantic entanglements clash on the battlefield and on the ramparts of Nottingham Castle. A play about selfishness and selflessness and love deferred and the fight. Always the fight. The fight must go on.


This play is published: http://www.samuelfrench.com/p/62565/marian-or-the-true-tale-of-robin-hood

“a sheer comic delight. This gender-bending, myth-rending gallivant through Sherwood Forest and Prince John’s keep boasts the funniest and most appealing band of Merry Men you’re likely to meet in Manhattan. –Blogcritics

“a sweet farce” --Timeout New York

“the show thrives on its own playfulness and silly energy while still tying everything up at the end. Marian manages to present something important without taking itself too seriously – and that makes it all the more resonant. It doesn’t need to overstate anything. This is feminism in action (in all its beautiful, heroic glory).” --Theatre Is Easy

“95 minutes of first-class writing, acting, and directing.” -Show Showdown
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Marian or The True Tale of Robin Hood

Recommended by

  • Brenton Kniess:
    5 Jan. 2023
    “ One of the best plays written in the last decade as well as one of the best adaptions of Robin Hood on both stage and screen. ”
  • Chelsea Frandsen:
    25 Oct. 2022
    “ I had to go buy a second copy of this script because I've literally read the covers off my first one! This is a wonderfully fresh and diverse take on the classic tale with powerhouse roles for everyone, including those of the LGBTQ+ community. The relationships between characters are heartfelt, authentic and fun, and the story overall will delight anyone who sees or performs it. As a *huge* fan of anything Robin Hood, I have added this play to my Favorites List. ”
  • Cole Hunter Dzubak:
    9 Jul. 2021
    “ Szymkowicz proves that he is ahead of his time with this beautifully and brilliantly written take on Robin Hood. While putting his own spin on the classic tale, everything about it is completely believable, and the subject matter especially with gender and LGBTQ+ representation is exceptional and flows smoothly in this piece to help make the playwrights point. Before COVID I was cast in this show at MSU as Tommy of No Consequence and it was some of the most fun! As both actor and playwright, this is a show worth reading that nails its message 1000%. ”
View all 7 recommendations

Character Information

CAST OF CHARACTERS (10-29 actors. 5-26 F, 3-24 M, 20 possible gender non specific.)

ROBIN/MARIAN --female
ALANNA DALE – female
THE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM –male
LITTLE JOHN – male, large
LADY SHIRLEY—female
PRINCE JOHN – male
TANNER—any gender (Can be doubled by actor who plays THEO or LUCY)
WILL SCARLET –female (played as male)
MUCH THE MILLER’S SON – nonbinary (can be played by female, male transgender, genderqueer or nonbinary individual)
FRIAR TUCK – male (in smaller cast, can be played by the same actor who plays the Sheriff.)
TOMMY OF NO CONSEQUENCE -- played as male by any gender
SIR THEO THE PUNCTUAL –played as male by any gender
SIR LENNY THE OBSERVANT -- played as male by any gender
LUCY –played as female (can be doubled as SIR LENNY or a GUARD)
GUARDS (as many or as few as you like—up to 15 speaking parts.)-- played as male by any gender. In a smaller cast, GUARD 1 and GUARD 2 are played by THEO and LENNY. In a larger cast, each time GUARD 1 and 2 appear, can be played by different actors. The actor who plays TOMMY can play a guard towards the end too. The actor who plays SHIRLEY as well.

NOTE: All parts are race non specific. Robin Hood/Marian need not be white. When women are playing men, fake moustaches and beards are probably a good idea. Try very hard to have a diverse cast. Almost 40 percent of the US is nonwhite. Can at least 40 percent of your cast be? It would also be very helpful to have transgender, genderqueer, or ninbinary people involved in the production. Preferably more than one. The designations of female and male above can be used more as a guideline in the casting of this play. It would be great if Much was cast with a transgender, genderqueer or nonbinary actor but there are other parts that might be cast that way too. (Language about gender is changing fast. Please pretend I’m using the most respectful version that is currently in use.)

SETTING:
England. Nottingham, Sherwood Forest. There is a modern American bent to the play in terms of the themes and concerns of the characters. To that end, the English accents need not be particularly good. Designwise, it may want to feel old however, to make the contrast all the clearer.

Settings can be very simply implied. Keep it spare, flexible. Maybe this play should be done in a park or in the woods or in a castle.

TIME:
During the Third Crusade. The 1190s.

  • Much, The Miller's Child
    25 to 45,
    Any
    ,
    Non-binary
    Can be played by:
    • Age: 
      20s, 30s, 40s, 50s
    • Race/Ethnicity: 
      Any race/ethnicity
    • Gender: 
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Commission
    ,
    Flux Theater Ensemble
    ,
    2015

Production History

  • Professional
    ,
    Flux Theatre Ensemble
    ,
    2017
  • Professional
    ,
    Know Theater of Cincinnati
    ,
    2017
  • Professional
    ,
    Bridge Theater Ensemble Fringe
    ,
    2017