FIRST PAGE

_{RYBENA OF THE WOODS.

ALL THE CAST ON STAGE, SINGING TO THE TUNE OF “SHE’LL BE COMING ROUND THE
MOUNTAIN WHEN SHE COMES”
Panto time is here again,
Panto time is here again,
With fun and laughter,
It’s happy ever after,
Panto time is here again. REPEAT.
ALL EXIT, SINGING, EXCEPT RYBENA, WINIFRED, ERMYNTRUDE, MARION, MEG AND WILD
WOMEN 1 AND 2.
PLACARD SHOWING “THE WILD WOODS”. THE WILD WOMEN ARE DRILLING WITH STICKS
HELD LIKE RIFLES TO THE INSTRUCTIONS OF RYBENA.
RYBENA}

Halt! My friends gather round and listen,

I hear Robin of the Woods is in prison,

All our hopes now are smashed,

Dreams of a leader completely dashed.

WINIFRED

I am still _{4uite willing,}

To carry on with this ‘ere drilling

So we can topple the King from his throne

And then we can all go home.

RYBENA

Our homes were destroyed on the King’s orders,

And our menfolk sent beyond the borders,

He said he owned us; we were not free,

And so we just had to up and flee.

ERMYNTRUDE

Yes, he wanted us all in his power,

Every minute of every hour,

He has wicked desires, we all know,

For all his servants tell us so.

CHORUS

Tell us more, tell us more,

How can you be so sure?

WINIFRED

Can’t we just go it alone?

Surely we are strong enough on our own?

RYBENA

How can we? It would be too much hassle,

To try and break into the castle,

He is surrounded by soldiers tough,

I rather think they’d cut up rough.

Perhaps Robin will escape and come to our aid,

And then all wrongs can be repaid.

ERMYNTRUDE

I’m fed up living all alone,

I want to go back to my home.

CHORUS

So do we! So do we!

Never more to see a tree.