CHS Drama Club to present ‘Robin Hood and His Merry Men’

The Renaissance time period will come to life this Friday through Sunday as the Crowley High School Drama Club presents “Robin Hood and His Merry Men” on the stage of The Grand Opera House.

In this full-length play, Prince John has decided to raise taxes in the absence of his brother King Richard, who is off fighting the crusades, taking all available men of Nottingham with him to battle.

Not only does Prince John want to raise the taxes, making the citizens pay 95 percent of their hard-earned wages to him, but he has decided that his 500th decree, will be the best one ever. So, at the suggestion of his quirky friend Kevin, John decrees that Maid Marian will have to marry him on Saturday if she cannot find another suitor by that time.

But Maid Marian, like every other lady of Nottingham, is in love with Robin Hood. Therefore, Prince John enlists the help of the evil sheriff and her naïve partner Matilda to help set his plans in motion.

Robin Hood, however, has another plan - to rob from the rich Prince John and give back to the poor citizens of Nottingham. To do this, he enlists the help of Little John, Duncan and Friar Tuck.

Robin Hood instructs Friar Tuck to gather some men to form a gang to rescue Maid Marian from the sheriff’s evil clutches, but there are no men to be found. So Friar Tuck, Duncan and Little John find five ladies and train them to behave like men. Robin Hood has to get pretty crafty as well if he is going to save Maid Marian and stop the evil Prince John.

Cast members include seniors Aaron Booty (Prince John), Luke Arsement (Robin Hood), Justin Simon (Friar Tuck), Eric LaCombe (Narrator, Woodsman and King Richard) and Katelyn Richard (Guard 1 and Costumer 1); juniors Tony Arsement (Kevin) and Jasmine LeMaire (Sheriff of Nottingham); sophomores Addison Green (Merry Man 3 and Mac), Alexis Bernard (Merry Man 2 and Throne Girl), Brock Credeur (Little John and Sweeper), Doshia Byers (Lady Jacquelyn and Prop Girl), Maya Clement (Guard 2 and Costumer 2), Shawn Jackson (Lady Cassandra and Citizen 2) and Tra’Naye Brooks (Lady Helena and Merry Man 1); and freshmen Maggie Arsement (Maid Marian), Alyssa Huval (Lady Sybil and Citizen 1), Savana Green (Lady Elizabeth and Ladder Girl), Julia Sittig (Lady Gertrude and Light Girl) and Tristin Robinson (Matilda).

Additionally, the drama club has once again incorporated an outreach program into the production. Children taking the stage through the outreach program are Cole-Ryan and Caleb Henry, Casey Benoit, Kameryn Richard, Sara and Hana Arsement, Louis Hebert, Alaina and Madeline Kibodeaux and Samantha Leger (sound master). 

Also participating are returning Crowley High School graduate Courtney Suire as assistant director, Celeste Henry as backstage director and Robert Baxter as set and stage design director.

The play will be presented Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. at the Grand Opera House, 505 N. Parkerson Ave. in Crowley.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for students and $5 for balcony seating. Tickets may be purchased online at www.thegrandoperahouse.org, by calling the opera house at 785-0440 or at the door beginning an hour before curtain time.