The Robber Bridegroom is Centuries in the Making!

October 28th, 2011

Michael Stone Forrest, Jamison Lingle, Chad Doreck and Sue Goodman in The Robber Bridegroom at ICT

Good ideas come every day, but rarely does a great idea come along that stands the test of time. One such great idea is currently playing at International City Theatre – the splendidly fun, Tony-nominated musical “The Robber Bridegroom.” Based on a fairy tale that has evolved over hundreds of years, this story is as entertaining today as it was when it was originally penned.

Although the original Broadway show debuted in 1975, the idea for this revival goes back much further than that. Written and composed by Alfred Uhry and Robert Waldman, they based the musical on Eudora Welty’s novella of the same name. Published in 1942, it was Welty’s first novel and was viewed by readers and critics alike as a contemporary Southern fairy tale. However, the good idea did not start with Welty.

Welty’s novella is based on a German fairy tale collected by The Brothers Grimm in the late 1700’s as tale number 40. However, while the actual origin of the story has never been determined, it can be traced all the way back to Shakespeare in 1599 when he refers to the tale in “Much Ado About Nothing.”

Michael Uribes and Tyler Ledon in The Robber Bridegroom at ICT

Set in the yesteryears of Mississippi, “The Robber Bridegroom” musical tells of the courting of Rosamund, the only daughter of the richest planter in the country, by Jamie Lockhart, a rascally robber of the woods. Throw in an evil stepmother, her pea-brained henchman and a talking head-in-a-trunk, and you have the recipe for a rollicking romp.

Speaking of great ideas, you should get your tickets for this wonderfully entertaining show! We can’t think of anything better.

“The Robber Bridegroom” runs through November 6 with performances Thursdays through Sundays at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased online at www.InternationalCityTheatre.org or by phone at 562.436.4610.