Dead Ringer

By Martha Duffy

As one of the dafter masterpieces of Western art, rich in overreach, Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen is an obvious target for takeoffs of all sorts. The latest is Das Barbecu, which arrived last week off-Broadway after having been developed in several regional theater productions. Concentrating on the last opera, Gotterdammerung, the show is set in oil-rich Texas. Not a bad idea: like Valhalla, Texas was built by the iron whim of wealthy men. Jim Luigs, who wrote the book and lyrics, sees the gods as feuding, singing cowboys. Five exceedingly busy people manage to rush through 30 parts.

The best spoofs of Wagner take on the music and kid it. But composer Scott Warrender settles for standard C. and W. in the first act (Hog-Tie Your Man), while veering to show tunes in the second. The only Wagner to be heard is the bridal march from Lohengrin, which runs through the mismatched double weddin' of Gunther to Brunnhilde and of her drugged true love Siegfried to Gutrune. One way or another, much of the opera plot -- too much -- is noted. As one of the actors says, pointing at the audience, "Their eyes is glazed over! They're on information overload!"

, That will be a real problem for theatergoers who aren't familiar with the story. At the same time, even those who don't know Wagner well may feel cheated that this Wagner parody doesn't even try to lampoon his scores. There are few pauses in the breakneck pace and very little in the way of real invention. Still, to any survivor of a real Ring cycle, it's refreshing to hear Wotan yell to his old enemy Alberich at the end, "Are you fryin' or drownin'?"