"City of Shadows" at The New York International Fringe Festival
“City Of Shadows”
Directed and Composed by Rachael Dease
Reviewed by Joseph Verlezza
Theatre Reviews Limited
You begin to lurk in the “City Of Shadows” immediately as this vocal and visual cycle begins. The words “the faces of all enter here” echo in song as portraits of mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, children and friends are projected larger than life on a massive screen. They all seem to stare directly into your heart as your soul is massaged by the haunting voice of Rachael Dease. These are mug shots and police photos of crime scenes from turn of the last century that rhythmically appear to the accompaniment of a string quartet that is sometimes somber, at times erratic and atonal, but always teasing the audience to embrace what they are feeling. You do not recognize the faces but remarkably you imagine who they might be, for the human spirit has not changed with time. Immediately these images are no longer considered merely forensic photos, but rather works of art that with each viewing are able to evoke a different dissertation. The powerful blending of voice, words, music, and visual creates a haunting beauty that surrounds you and allows you to realize some of the horrors of society, the indifference for human life and the pain we inflict on others.
This experience is by no means exploitive nor morbid but rather mournful. You are saddened knowing someone has stopped a heart from beating or has stolen their last breath but hopeful that it has ended their pain. Rachael Dease is an accomplished artist whose compositions transcend a label. She is a poet with exceptional depth. Bold, perceptive, and endearing her hymns deliver the knowledge of awareness and sense of peace.
“There is no one when giving a kiss
Does not feel the smile of faceless people”
And so as this critic’s mind was kissed with the last projected image, my heart was warmed with a smile of hope and the words of a stranger. Do not miss the chance to experience the beauty and evocative sounds of ‘City Of Shadows” at the Robert Moss Theater as part of the NY Fringe Festival.
CITY OF SHADOWS
Presented by NY International Fringe Festival. Written, Composed and Directed by Rachael Dease.
Musicians; Brian J Kruger, violin; Hayley-Jane Ayres, violin; Aaron Wyatt, viola; and Tristen Parr, cello.
All performances take place at The Robert Moss Theater at 440 Studios, 440 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor (Astor Place and East 4th Street) in New York, NY. Tickets are available at www.fringenyc.org or 866-468-7619. $15 in advance, $18 at the door. Senior and Fringe Junior tickets available at the door for $10. Running time: 40 minutes with no intermission. For further information, visit: www.rachaeldease.com
Remaining Show Dates:
Thursday, August 23rd @ 9:15 pm
Friday, August 24th @ 6:15 pm
Saturday, August 25th @ 4:15 pm
Sunday, August 26th @ 4:45 pm
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 | Permalink | Posted by David Roberts on Thursday, August 23, 2012 |
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