Director of The Players Theatre production Simone Sherrin, says she was  unaware of the Tony Award-winning hit until she heard the music. “Once I heard it I investigated further and thought it would make a great show for us.” 

She says there was a really great turnout for auditions, but many of the 30-strong cast are not trained dancers.

“Choreographer Rose Hawkins has worked really hard to make the pieces look very impressive without making it too difficult to master.”

Sherrin says one of her hardest tasks was to ensure a smooth transition between the “show within the show” of the storyline. 

It’s 1959, and as the curtain rises, the cast of Boston’s Colonial Theatre’s latest production Robbin’ Hood is nearing its finale. Faded film star Jessica Cranshaw (a lovely cameo by Jan Cook) crucifies the final act and promptly dies after the curtain call.

Thus we meet Lt Frank Cioffi of Boston PD, played with great charisma, and a good handle on the Bostonian accent, by Harley Lindley, in his first leading role.

The theatre’s owner Carmen Bernstein (played beautifully by Players stalwart Lyn Turner), and producer Oscar Shapiro (a comic turn from Rob Doyle), must replace the dead leading lady. Director Christopher Belling (a delightfully fruity performance from Mark Garrett) agrees to the show’s lyricist Georgia Hendricks (definite leading lady material by Sarah Morabito) taking on the role. 

Meanwhile, the detective, an amateur thespian himself, is soon enamoured with one of the show’s ingenues Niki (lovely work by Emily Steven Seers), despite her coming increasingly under suspicion as the murderer following the demise of two others associated with the show, and attempt on the male lead of Robbin’ Hood Bobby Pepper (well played by Billy Axford).

Under pressure to revamp some of the musical numbers, composer Aaron Fox (a beautifully understated turn by Mark Morabito), finds it tough going without his partner in song and life.

Confused? You won’t be, as the many interwoven plots are comically solved one by one, with three love stories emerging, including between the theatre owner’s daughter Bambi (energetically played by Olivia Stevens Seers) and Bobby.

The minimalist set is cleverly manoeuvred while the costumes and make-up add to the overall appeal of the show.

I thoroughly enjoyed the show and the toe-tapping music. A fine effort from cast and crew.