Skylight’s ‘Ring’ of Brevity

×

Expand

Photo Credit: Sara Bill

They’re doing the entirety of Richard Wagner’s The Ring Cycle in two hours? That’s editing out something like 16 hours. Since one might expect an abridgment of that magnitude to be comical, it’s fitting that the Skylight Music Theatre’s The Skylight Ring has a light comic rhythm to it. Scenes briskly move along in the intimate space of the Broadway Theatre Center Studio Theatre with simple, comic costuming in an accessibly comfortable atmosphere. The show is narrated by pianist Robert Frankenberry in the central role of Alberich the dwarf who creates a powerful magical ring from stolen gold, loses it and then goes to very great lengths to get it back.

Though the comedy might not come as much of a surprise, the genuine moments of drama and passion and sadness and joy that resonate through the tiny studio theater are a lot more gripping than one might expect. This is a long, extremely dense and convoluted story crammed into two hours, but it’s got real emotion. Stripped of its full orchestral immensity, the humanity of the story feels that much more powerful. The comic moments tend to feel a little weak and self-conscious in places, but the drama connects quite consistently.

Frankenberry is stylishly scheming as someone who will stop at nothing to obtain his previous magic ring. There are three others in the cast who play far more than four roles. Tim Rebers is at this best as Wotan, king of the gods. There’s an achingly human vitality about him in the role. Erin Sura and Colleen Brooks are particularly captivating as the Valkyrie Brünnhilde and Siegfried, the man brave enough to climb a mountain and pass through a ring of fire to get to her.

Through June 7 at the Broadway Theatre Center’s Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway. For tickets, call 414-291-7800 or visit skylightmusictheatre.org.