An absolutely wonderfully theatrical and original performance brimming with intelligence and talent, Ulysses Dies at Dawn is an absolute must-see this year. Full of pulsing rhythms and raw vocals, this is an intense and intriguing performance beautifully crafted by Mechanisms – an awesomely talented group of musicians and actors.
Their music was a complex weave of strong melodies and sound harmonies, perfectly in tune with one another and their audience. Between the performers their vocal types covered an impressive range, from the gritty harshness of the lead singer to the beautiful, almost ethereal, voice of the pianist. It would be impossible to pin their sound down into a single genre. There was a definite folk influence, but mixed with a wild array of who knows what else. What can be asserted, though, was that it worked.
Their costumes were another wonderful part of the performance. A brilliant fusion of steampunk, cyberpunk, gangster and, obviously, space pirate fashion, they were fantastically inventive and original in their design. Each costume personally suited its character perfectly, while simultaneously marking them as one crew. Innovative and unusual, the costumes not only characterised the actors but also set the scene – forcing the audience into their crazy, hellish world.
In short, I can’t believe I saw this in the Free Fringe. Such originality and energy, I would have definitely paid to go see this. From the wonderful reimagining of the original story to the powerful, beautiful and grimy vocals, this performance was absolutely entertaining. Go see it, tell all your friends about it, buy their CD – do it all. These guys are top notch performers and storytellers, as well as incredibly talented musicians.
