Das Barbecü is a send-up of Wagner’s “Ring Cycle” and a put-down of Texas and Texans’ excesses. At Florida Studio Theater, the plot has a “Dallas”-like ring to it, as it’s acted, danced, and sung (with a Texas twang) by five energetic performers playing 30 characters.
The story involves a magic gold ring conveying power to rule the world. Head honcho Wotan’s wife Frica gave it to nephew Siegfried. But it’s sought by its maker, evil dwarf Alberich, who filched the gold from Rhine maidens, stars of a water show.
While Stephen Hope’s greedy Wotan schemes to get the ring, his daughter Brunhilde’s set -- well, almost -- to marry Siegfried. He’s given to her what Al will do anything to get back. Betimes, dressed-in-bridal-array Gutrune is so keen to marry Siegfried that she set up a ceremony and reception. (The actual, unused reception becomes perhaps the most memorable scene as the two non-brides gorge themselves on uneaten buffet food.)
A show that’s more stereotypical than typic can’t be either enjoyed or judged via anything approaching standards for realism. It would be nice if the leads could interact better or one could connect with their plights, but such go better with a different kind of vehicle. What’s most enjoyable here is letting oneself be awed by the quick changes of setting, roles (one can hardly say characters), atmospheric lighting and costumes (a really sumptuous as well as silly array).
The best directorial choice: setting off the fine band on a stand upstage behind chicken wire and using panels sliding together to form scenic backdrops. Next best: characterization by bodily stance, especially Joshua Carter’s crouching Alberich and Maria Couch’s ready-to-lasso, upright Gutrune, and finally, by costume, such as Joanna Parson’s Fricka gardening in hot pink silk suit and hat.
For a musical with several kinds of tunes, there’s not much memorable outside of “Hog Tie Your Man” and “Slide a Little Closer, Darlin’” -- both pretty much parodic. Probably, in a show that spoofs a gigantic undertaking, one could argue that less music and plot would be even more of a pleasure on a light summer program.
