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The DC3: The Ringtone Cycle

Brendan Hitchens

As the cliché goes, sometimes the journey is as important as the destination. In tonight’s case, the journey is one of exceptional highs.

Tonight's show was supposed to take place at Etihad stadium. It was supposed to see members of the audience hold I Pads with scrolling messages. It was supposed to depict German composer Richard Wagner's 16 hour opera, The Ring Cycle. But alas it didn't. Due to an unsuccessful grant application, narrowly trumped at the last minute by Henry Wagons, instead tonight's performance has been significantly downscaled. Taking place at an underground city gallery, instead it uses a live art installation made up of 30 rolls of toilet paper and a large oscillating fan. Most importantly it has very little to do with Wagner at all.

Lead by the stupendously quick wit of Damian Cowell aka former TISM member Humphrey B. Flaubert, the adapted Ringtone Cycle is a scathingly cynical diatribe of a failed funding attempt, interjected with songs of cultural elitism by his band The DC3. As the cliché goes, sometimes the journey is as important as the destination. In tonight's case, the journey is one of exceptional highs.