Guitar Outlaws Strum Strong Songs, In Flimsy `String Cycle' Plot

"The String Cycle with Guitar Outlaws," starring Duffy Bishop, Rob Morgan Orville Johnson and Lisa Koch. Tonight and tomorrow at The Backstage, 2208 NW Market St., Ballard. Showtime 8:30, tickets $10 at the door. --------------------------------------------------------------- It's no coincidence that the Guitar Outlaw opus "The String Cycle" is often compared to Wagner's "Ring Cycle." Besides the fact that the titles rhyme, both are epic operas in which confusing and convoluted tales are told with lots of grandiose music.

"The String Cycle" is three one acts miraculously combined into a massive two hour (with intermission) spectacular. The story is told of how timber heiress Wanda Woodhouser (Duffy Bishop) meets and falls in love with radical environmentalist Doug (Rob Morgan of the Squirrels). Their life together is thwarted by the bigoted demagogue Deputy Preacher Helms (Orville Johnson) and Wanda's evil step mother Ferdina (Lisa Koch). At about this point the story gets a little sketchy if not sticky. Doug becomes Doug Christ and ascends to heaven for his belief in the Gospel of Rhythm. There's a Second Coming, perhaps a third, several spiritual redemptions, a pregnancy, Doug Christ Jr., actual singing guitar outlaws riding the plains (first act), actual singing guitar outlaws working in a laundry (second act), slam dancing, big hair, big bad hair, crime, punishment, suggestions of sex and a real upbeat ending.

"Basically "The String Cycle" is a very flimsy plot with 30 great songs," says playwright Carl Sander, who co-wrote the book and music with guitarist Chris Carlson, long time band mate of Duffy Bishop. Sander and Carlson first began working together in 1989 on a piece for A.C.T.'s "Songworks" series entitled "Duffy Don't Do Dead Singers No More."

"What I did was string together a bunch of songs Duffy, Chris and their band the Rhythm Dogs were already doing," says Sander. "The story was that Duffy was possessed by the spirits of dead singers which gave us the premise to put together these incredible medleys. You know, "Free Bird" into an Ethel Merman into Jimi Hendrix and so on. The show did great. In fact, the show holds the record for selling more booze during the intermission than any other show ever mounted at A.C.T. Plus, we had such a good time working on it we decided to do more."

They began in May of '91 with "A Simple Love Story with Guitar Outlaws," a one act story of how Wanda and Doug meet and fall in love. In November '91, the team - Tavern Opera Productions - produced "The Second Coming of Guitar Outlaws," continuing the story line. "The String Cycle" attempts to tie things up."

"We originally did the show at The Eastlake Zoo in the style of a classic Greek play," explains Sander. "By using the existing structure as placement for the story, we got out of having to build a set, which was fine with us. The Guitar Outlaws themselves serve as a chorus, moving the story along, explaining plot points and so forth." The Outlaws is usually made up of anyone the producers and cast know who can play a guitar and owns a cowboy hat, although the guitar part is sometimes optional.

Sander admits that to some a story built around a fictional ascension and second coming might be mildly offensive, but there have been no official organized reprisals.

"We're doing this in a playful manner, but the message at the bottom of this is really pertinent," Sander says. "Doug believes in the Gospel of Rhythm and wants to spread the word, but discovers the only way anyone will take him seriously is if he dies for his beliefs. The Gospel of Rhythm is a gospel of love, an invaluable gift, which is what Jesus preached and sacrificed his life for."

He adds that by doing the show in a tavern, it affords people who might not ever see a live theatrical performance a chance to do so.

"Live theatre is so vital, so immediate," he says. "This is so much better than television. The response we've gotten, the give-and-take between the performers and the audience has always been great."

Sander's co-conspirator Chris Carlson simply sums up "The String Cycle" as "the most important event of the 20th Century."

"If only," explains Carlson, "because you'll be given the chance to see grown men demonstrate just how dancing challenged they can be."