Oregon Music News

A Richard Wagner-Pamela Anderson mashup took place at Clinton Street Theater on Wednesday evening (February 24) when Opera Theater Oregon presented “Das Rheingold,” and the result was absolutely hilarious! This unique, wacked-out show took Wagner’s music to a place that it has never gone before – Malibu Beach, using an episode of the popular 90s TV series Baywatch for the plot and characters. The singing, acting, musicianship, and low-budget scenery combined to make a hilarious evening for those who have never seen an opera before as well as those who are bona fide Wagner buffs.

For starters, those who wanted to learn more about Wagner’s leitmotifs (a musical phrase that is characteristic of person, place, or idea) came a half hour before the show to play Leitmotif Bingo. The audience easily picked up on the signature tune like “Knuckle Sandwich,” “Safety,” “Love Theme,” and “Pissed Off,” and winners received paperback copies of used dime store bestsellers like “Professor of the Coeds,” “The Importance of Feeling Inferior,” “Dark Surrender,” ‘The Pocketbook of War Humor,” and “Spies Who Changed History.”

The opera itself opened with the magnificent rolling wave music, which in the original depicts the Rhine River, and it matched up perfectly with the Baywatch girls (Rheinmaidens) who tossed a volleyball and cavorted with the Matt Brody (Loge) character, sung with passion by David Simmons. As the story unfolds, we learn of Matt’s infatuation for CJ Parker (Pamela Anderson (Freia)), sung with hair-swishing glee by Emily Kinkley, and of the evil machinations of Larry ‘Loomin’ Large (Albrich) in his quest for the perfect tan, which has the power to corrupt its wearer.

Michael Miersma, as LLL, sang with a campy yet diabolical swagger to command the stage and deliver an over-the-top performance. Larry is outdueled in a ridiculous Tanhelm-grabbing scene by head lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Wotan), played by Benjamin Bell, who then succumbs to its corrupting power until it is tossed over the cliffs and into the crashing sea.

Other principals who distinguished themselves with strong singing were May Winner as Kay Morgan (Fricka), Claire Craig-Sheet as Hobie Buchannon (Flosshilde/Erda), and Eva Wolff as Caroline Holden (Wellgunde). In a speaking role, Ian Timmons created a submissive and misguided Basil Frankenkos (Mime).

Erica Melton’s arrangement of Wagner’s music for brass and a choir of amplified guitars worked like a charm. For the performance, Melton deftly conducted a split orchestra with the Festival Brass ensemble plus clarinets, piano, and harp on the left side of the stage and the Electric Opera Company (six amplified guitars and drum set) on the right. Here and there the sound from the musicians overpowered the singers, but it never distorted the overall effect.

Katie Taylor’s libretto/script left no beach boulder unturned. Here a sample:

Safety is what we do best.
Safety puts you to the test.
Don’t swim till you digest.

And another…

I won’t be selfish.
I won’t eat shellfish.

The special effects by David Ian and Dino de AElfweald added greatly to the overall enjoyment of this show. This is the first opera I’ve seen in which the sound of a light saber put a real zap into the fight scenes.

There are two more performances of “Das Rheingold” remaining: tonight (February 26) and Sunday (February 28), both performances are at 7:30 pm (with Leitmotif Bingo starting at 7 pm). I can heartily recommend this production to you.