Robin Hood:  Prince of…MONSTERS!

(written and conceived by Daniel John Kelley)

ONLY TWO PERFORMANCES!

Saturday, September 11th at 2pm and 4pm.

The Brooklyn Book Festival is a huge, free public event presenting an array of literary stars and emerging authors who represent the exciting world of literature today. One of America’s premier literary and literacy events, this hip, smart, diverse gathering attracts thousands of book lovers of all ages. The festival is organized around themed readings and devoted to timely and lively panel discussions. The inclusion of top national and international authors and new partners has expanded the festival’s reach while continuing to celebrate and enhance Brooklyn’s contemporary and historic literary reputation.

This year, Monster Literature, with the Irondale Ensemble Project, will present ROBIN HOOD:  PRINCE OF…MONSTERS! as part of the Bookend Event series (special literary events that ‘bookend’ the festival) on September 11th.

Showtimes and Specifics:

Saturday, September 11th at 2pm and 4pm

Irondale Center

85 South Oxford Street

Brooklyn, NY 11217

Tickets are $5 online HERE, and $7 if purchased at the box office on the day of the show.

Brooklyn, NY –  Mainspring Collective and the Irondale Center present a new children’s theater series, Monster Literature, written and conceived by Daniel John Kelley at the Irondale Center. ’Robin Hood:Prince of…MONSTERS!’ offers a new twist on an old classic.

There’s something funny happening in Sherwood Forest.  The evil wizard, Zorlan Morlan has used his magic to turn Robin Hood into a big old scaredy cat, and transform his band of Merry Men into a band of Merry…MONSTERS!  It’s up to 12 year old Benjy Bleeglehorn and her dashing sidekick, Bravo, to enter the story and turn Robin Hood back into his old self again- by teaching him what it means to be a hero.

nytheatre.com review

Wendy Remington Bowie · June 6, 2010

The Emperor’s New… Monsters! is the fourth episode of Monster Literature, produced by Mainspring Collective and the Brooklyn Lyceum. Monster Literature tells the continuing adventures of Benjy Bleeglehorn and her sidekick Bravo Kirkwood as they stop the evil wizard Zorlan Morlan from using his powers to rewrite monsters into great works of children’s literature. In this episode, Benjy and Bravo meet up with Hans Christian Andersen to save his “Emperor’s New Clothes” from Zorlan Morlan’s dastardly meddling. As they set out on their adventures, Bravo tires of being a sidekick and decides to set out on his own. The evil Zorlan Morlan preys upon Bravo’s need to be seen as awesome in order to trap Bravo in the stolen story, establishing him as the emperor of the imaginary Bravotown, a place where anyone who is found to be not awesome is subject to banishment, and supplying him with an entourage of monsters. A new monster enters Bravotown promising to make Bravo a suit of armor (complete with a laser module) that not only will be awesome, but that only awesome people will be able to see, making it a piece of cake to tell who is awesome (and can be Bravo’s friend), and who is not. Though Bravo and his monster entourage initially fall for the plot and pretend to be able to see this imaginary suit, Benjy and Hans Christian Andersen finally help them to believe in their own awesomeness by knowing what they’re good at, accepting the things for which they need to ask for help, and believing in themselves. Zorlan Morlan’s plot is foiled and another great work of children’s literature remains safe from his evil machinations.

Although this is the fourth episode in the series and it was clear that there was a full back story, as newcomers we had no problem hopping right into the story. I appreciated that the company set clear expectations for the children’s behavior from the outset—participation is encouraged and they should feel free to chime in. The space is very accommodating for kids with rows of seating and a set of mats on the floor for those kids who want to be as close as possible. This seating arrangement allows for a few kids to change their seats and get a little closer to the action as they get more comfortable.

It is clear that this company is skilled at creating theatre for children that meets them on their own turf, and as an added bonus, as a parent I found the performance genuinely enjoyable as well. This is not a kid’s script with clever one-liners thrown in for the parents’ benefit—the story stands on its own and the bits that are funny are simply, truly funny. During the story, the message was is broken down into clear sound bites that are reinforced several times, making it easy for kids to take away. I appreciated a great deal that their ultimate message is nuanced and real—they acknowledge outright that truly believing in yourself rather than relying on others’ opinions is sometimes the harder route to take, and even our heroine Benjy had moments of self doubt.

Aaron Scott as Bravo plays a loveable, approachable hero to whom the children easily related. It was impressive to watch Jenna Weinberg as Benjy Bleeglehorn and Alessandro King as Hans Christian Andersen drive the story along while simultaneously and seamlessly each working in a style appropriate and believable to their character without a hitch. Candice Goodman, Maya Baldwin, and Mark DeFrancis create a trio of unique, personable, and dimensional monsters. And Owen Scott as Zorlan Morlan is a simply delightful and hysterical villain. The design and direction create a distinctly cartoon atmosphere and the company effortlessly skips between styles and conventions of cartoons and kids television to recreate a rich, stylized world in real time. The streamlined set and props cleverly sketch out the world of the play, which make it an effortless endeavor (even as an adult) to fill it out with one’s imagination.

Monster Literature is intended for ages 5 and up and the kids in the audience at the performance we saw ranged from about 3 to 10 years old. The message might be too advanced for littler kids (it didn’t quite convey to my three year old) but it was totally engaging start to finish for the kids across ages in the audience and it creates a fantastic venue to introduce kids to performance. Samirah still talks about meeting the actors after the performance. Bravo was the focus of this episode, but the team of Benjy and Bravo make Monster Literature equally appealing to both boys and girls. And it’s always great to see a self-confident, capable heroine.

Overall, this is an inexpensive and lovely way to spend an afternoon. I know that we’ll be staying tuned for the next episode.

Here’s what Show Business Weekly had to say:

Review by Tanisia Morris

Written by Daniel John Kelley and produced by Mainspring Collective, The Emperor’s New… Monsters! finds Benjy Bleeglehorn (Jenna Weinberg) fighting to save Hans Christian Anderson’s (Alessandro King) classic story, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” from the evil Zorlan Morlan (Owen Scott). Benjy is also on a quest to save her friendship with her dashing sidekick, Bravo Kirkwood (Aaron Matteson), who, in this latest chapter of the Monster Literature series at Brooklyn Lyceum, is too “aww-esome” to be her accessory in the battle against Zorlan and his monsters.

Appealing to Bravo’s desire to be thought of as awesome, Zorlan pits the once best buds against one another by offering Bravo the role of emperor in a tainted yet comical version of Anderson’s popular text. It’s a role Bravo accepts without hesitation, thus inadvertently aiding Zorlan in the destruction of “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” Coincidentally, Bravo has some new clothes of his own: He trades in his customary black trench coat and sunglasses for a ‘90s-inspired, multi-hued windbreaker jacket that is adorned with flashy “bling.” He and his monster assistants, who have transformed into hype men, perform a rap song that is simply to die for — if not for the kids then for the adults, who will find it hard to contain their laughter in what might bethe most amusing scene in the production.

Yet even with all the fantastic hoopla, there is one particular area in Emperor that needs work: The audience participation requires that the kids answer yes or no whenever one of the characters asks a yes/no question. But this gets a little confusing for young kids as there are a handful of questions that don’t require their input. Despite this minor lapse, all is not lost in Emperor: The play, much like the overall series, is easy to follow, and the creative team avoids the common trap of most ultra-modern kids’ productions by opting for simplicity in terms of its storyline and presentation. (The costumes and the set are made with common household/office materials.)

The play’s message is also wonderfully executed. Throughout the production, great emphasis is placed on friendship and, more importantly, on being comfortable with one’s self no matter what anyone says. Benjy articulates the memo to the production’s young viewers without difficulty as she convinces Bravo that he doesn’t need to pretend to be something he is not in order to be considered awesome to other people. “Being you is what makes you awesome,” she tells him. It seems to be a mantra that the team at Monster Literature also recognizes as they vie for a spot as a front runner in New York children’s theater among a flock of other productions who are trying far too hard at it.

Monster Literature from shawn rice on Vimeo.

Our next episode is right around the corner! Click HERE to purchase your $5 tickets online!

Showtimes and Specifics:

Sat June 5th – 12:30pm and 2pm

Sun June 6th - 12:30pm and 2pm

Sat June 12th - 12:30pm and 2pm

Sun June 13th - 12:30pm and 2pm

Running time: 35 minutes.  For ages 5yrs and up, and adults too!

All Tickets $5/each

Tickets available online at www.brooklynlyceum.com or at the door.

Official website:www.monsterliterature.com

…For the next exciting episode of MONSTER LITERATURE!

Coming June 5-13 to the Brooklyn Lyceum in Park Slope. Watch this space for more details on the show!

And in the meantime…See some pictures of the Monsters! And then maybe…learn a little bit more about what exactly is MONSTER LITERATURE!

And then…well…we’ll see you in June!

Brooklyn Lyceum and Mainspring Collective bring you

OPENING THIS WEEKEND AND RUNNING UNTIL APRIL 25TH!!!!! DON’T MISS IT

Review by Tanisia Morris, Show Business Weekly

Lincoln green clothes, “Merry Men,” and bows and arrows can only mean one thing: Robin Hood. Written by Daniel John Kelley, Robin Hood: Prince of… Monsters! is the second program in Mainspring Collective’s Monster Literature — a children’s theater series that will continue in monthly episodes — which follows 12-year-old Benjy Bleeglehorn (Jenna Weinberg) and her sidekick, Bravo Kirkwood (Aaron Matteson), as they try to save the world’s most revered works of literature from the evil Zorlan Morlan, Lord of Tears (Owen Scott).

As in Monster Literature’s first production, Twas the Night Before…Monsters!, Robin Hood’s storyline is simple, as are its messages of kindness, forgiveness and courage. Zorlan Morlan puts a spell on Robin Hood (Mike Green), and suddenly, the once gutsy English hero is transformed into a coward who fears everything from the trees around him to the ground he walks on. It’s up to Benjy and Bravo to help him rediscover what it means to be a hero.

The folks at Mainspring Collective have clearly sought to improve the Monsterseries, with this installment more mindful of its young audience. As in English folklore, Robin Hood is dubbed a hero in this production, but, appropriately, no mention is made of his well-known kleptomaniacal tendency to steal from the rich and give to the poor. (It might be challenging to explain to five- and seven-year-olds why Robin Hood is considered a hero when he steals, an activity parents no doubt teach their kids is wrong.) Unlike in the first production, Robin Hood seeks the help of its young audience members, who are asked to shout “Oh, No!” whenever they hear the words “Archery Contest” during the play. All of the characters, from Robin Hood to Zorlan Morlan and Benjy, have enough charisma to sustain the audience’s attention. Maya Baldwin, who plays Zorlan Morlan’s Monster Messenger, elicits the most giggles with her gruff voice, depleted bugle horn, and awkward toddle. (read more…)

The scenic (Theresa Rivera), lighting (Dave Monroy) and sound design (Nick Moore), much like the production as a whole, are basic yet imaginative. As in Twas the Night Before, Julia Mancini’s costumes are effortlessly inspired, cleverly making use of household items, paper and plastic, and Robin Hood looks semi-sophisticated in Lincoln green attire. With these touches, Mainspring Collective clearly understands the idea that less is more — a concept many children’s productions have yet to master.

nytheatre.com review

Dan Kitrosser · February 14, 2010

Well, Zorlan Morlan is at it again, and this time not even Robin Hood and his band of merry men are a match for Zorlan’s Monsters as they continue to invade our most precious books in Robin Hood: Prince of … Monsters, the latest of installment of “Monster Literature,” Mainspring Collective’s hilarious and action-packed children series now playing at the Brooklyn Lyceum.

For those of you who have yet to witness these maniacal monsters, the premise is simple: In the future, monster megalomaniac Zorlan Morlan (Owen Scott) has decided that the only way to defeat humanity is by injecting monsters into their most prized pieces of literature, thereby changing the morals of mankind. But he meets his match every time, when heroine Benjy Bleeglehorn (Jenna Weinberg) and her trusty sidekick Bravo Kirkwood (Aaron Matteson) fight back, jumping into the stories and teaching the monsters about friendship, loyalty and bravery. I enjoyed the first installment ‘Twas the Night Before…Monsters! and so I had to come back and see the second. As a monster might say, Me Glad I Did!

Robin Hood, known for his bravery, is anything but in this version, penned by Daniel John Kelley. Zorlan Morlan has Robin Hood petrified to the point where, in the form of a wimpy and adorable Mike Green, Robin can’t seem to do much of anything, let alone rob the rich and feed the poor. The kids howled as Robin Hood seemed to be afraid of the most trivial things, from the floor to the papier-mache trees. Channeling Ghostbusters‘ Annie Potts is Maya Baldwin as Zorlan’s assistant, Monster Messenger, and at each appearance her dry lines (like “I do it for the dental insurance”) give the adults something to look forward to as well as push the story forward. As always, Benjy and Bravo are there to pull Robin Hood back together and in this installment, there is some wonderful chemistry between the two actors as Bravo laments his sidekick status and Benjy applauds him for his bravery. These real relationships, amidst the fantasy of monsters and hijinks of farce, really keep the kids engaged and the story moving forward. All children’s shows, no matter how bright and flashy, need to keep it real and in a couple of choice moments like this and the reconciliation with Zorlan Morlan at the end, “Monster Literature” does just that. (Read the rest of the review here…)

Watch the silly video here: Monster Snow Day!

There’s something funny happening in Sherwood Forest. The evil Zorlan Morlan has used his magic to turn Robin Hood into a big old scaredy cat, and transform his band of Merry Men into a band of Merry…MONSTERS! It’s up to 12-year- old Benjy Bleeglehorn, and her dashing sidekick Bravo, to enter the story and turn Robin Hood back into his old self again- by teaching him what it means to be a hero.