Review: Das Barbecü at ACT Theatre
ACT Theatre is currently staging Das Barbecü, a comic adaptation of Wagner’s Der Ring Des Nibeiungen (The Ring of The Nibelung) a cycle of four epic operas by composer Richard Wagner. This is just the ACT Theatre’s second production of this musical in fourteen years.
Many are aware of the Ring’s huge masterpiece story of god’s, heroes, giants and dwarfs who stalk the earth and mine the underworld. If not, it doesn’t matter because seeing Das Barbecü will explain it all. It’s set in Texas and hysterically featured along with the toe tapping country music are big hair and barbecue.
So try to follow me here. Two families have a long history of trying to gain the upper hand. They seek the golden ring, whoever owns and holds the ring has the power. Of course, throughout the ages the offspring (Siegfried, Brunnhilde, Gutrune, Hagen, Gunther) suffer the misdeeds of their elders (Wotan and Alberich).
You see Siegfried and Brunnhilde plan to marry and he has saved her and broken the ring of fire; that was her puinshment from her father Wotan. Wotan’s arch enemy, Alberich, has set up plans with his son, Hagen, to make Siegfried forgo his love for Brunnhilde and marry Alberich’s step-daughter Gutrune. You following so far? So the ring has a lot of people hopping beds so there is some hanky-panky going on down in Texas.
The production’s economy of actors, five total who each have at least three or more roles, are masterful. Anna Allgood (Fricka, Erda, Needa) is a joy to watch and her comic timing is sharp. Richard Ziman (Wotan, Hagen, Gunther) ties all this weird Germanic lore into a funny follow-along show. His strong character provides the lynch pin for all others to revolve around. Carter Davis (Siegfried, Alberich, Milam) in one role is a handsome leading man and in another role he is a dwarf. He carries both roles without doubt and he stays true to the characters.
Billie Wildrick (Brunnhilde) brings the right amount of haunting desire for love and a desire for a normal life to the role. Last but not least is Jennifer Sue Johnson (Gutrune, Freia) who is a delight in her roles and she wears the best Texas wedding dress I have ever had the pleasure to see. The actors were so believable in playing several different roles that at the end of the show, when the curtain came down, I wondered where was the rest of the cast.
This production has so much going for it including the music. The songs are fun with ditty’s like Hog Tie Your Man, Rodeo Romeo and Barbecue for Two. The performers act, sing and are just plain fun to watch. The directing and choreography of the dance numbers by Stephen Terrell is first-rate. The whole production is a romp, with fun for everyone from serious fans of the Ring to neophytes like myself. So much fun than I am planning to go to see it again.
Das Barbecü plays through September 6, 2009. Tickets start at just $37.50 with special prices available for students and people under 25. For more info and tickets, visit www.acttheatre.org.
– Ethel W.
Also, every Friday and Saturday following the performance of Das Barbecü, there will be a late night concert by Seattle’s own all-gay camped-out country-tonk combo, Purty Mouth. Topped off with some cheeky variety and special guests each week, Purty Mouth dishes out a little Hedwig, a dash of Hee-Haw, and a whole lotta heart in their new show, The Weddin’ Sangers, inspired by Das Barbecü. Performances from Purty Mouth are Fridays and Saturdays, August 14 – September 5 at 10:30pm, immediately following Das Barbecü. Tickets for their late night concert and variety show are just $10 or $7 with the purchase of a Das Barbecü ticket.
Watch the creative team describe Das Barbecü:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kApnV86NGzc
