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Snow White (The Apple Trilogy)


Off-Off-Broadway, Dance Theatre

Location: 303 Bond Street, Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn


The queen (Gioia Marchese) tempts Snow White (Yeva Glover). Photo by Daniel Perez.

BOTTOM LINE: For anyone who likes dance theatre, and even for those who don’t, all three shows are well worth the trip to Carroll Gardens.

Whoa, kids. This is not your momma’s dance company. Lets take care of the stats first. Here’s the hard information. Company XIV runs these three shows in rep through January 17 - The Judgement of Paris, Le Serpent Rouge, and Snow White - in their cavernous space in Brooklyn. The Judgment of Paris and Le Serpent Rouge are revivals of shows previously presented and are definitely R-rated; their new piece, the hour long Snow White, is for children. Performance dates and times are as follows.

Snow White; December 20, 27 and January 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17. (3PM)
Le Serpent Rouge; December 20, 27 and January 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17. (8PM)
The Judgment of Paris; December 26, 31 and January 2, 7, 14


Snow White
I love dance theatre. And Company XIV’s Snow White, even though it is marketed for kids, is no exception. A beautiful work, lush and quirky while equally funny and frightening, it is always engaging. Note to parents: there are points where the plot drags as the narrative has to emphasize itself to make the stagecraft clear for the kids. But if you can swallow that slight irritation, you will not be disappointed. Well-appointed and creative in ways I wish more theatre would aspire to be, Snow White is a gorgeous symphony of music, dance, complex imagery and stagecraft we are not likely to see again for some time, yet amazingly still accessible for children. I adored it and I hope you will too. It’s a far cry above Hannah Montana, that’s for sure.


Le Serpent Rouge
Kitty Lindsay reviewed this show for Theasy in June 2009. Here are some excerpts.
BOTTOM LINE: Sin is the new black.

To describe Company XIV's original production, Le Serpent Rouge, as fantastic and marvelous or even wonderful would simply not suffice. This production may very possibly have been sent directly from heaven above because the advanced levels of artistry and the skill in their execution are of biblical proportions.

Most refreshing about this production is its seemingly flawless execution. So often, productions open under-rehearsed, technically inadequate, and poorly-planned. This production, however, is ready from the word "go" and it is obvious much time, energy, and thought was put towards realizing the potential of this project. Eat the apple and enjoy Le Serpent Rouge!


The Judgement Of Paris
Molly Marinik reviewed this show for Theasy in May 2008. Here are some excerpts.
BOTTOM LINE: It's sexy, it's dance-y, it's the story of Helen of Troy. This "dramatic entertainment" includes some intensely good dancing but is also pretty avant-garde in its presentation. For those who like modern dance and quirky storytelling.

With an emphasis on Moulin Rouge-esque presentation, the performace is sexual and playful and maintains an air of French fun. The dancers are clearly enjoying themselves as they commit fully to their roles and luckily, it's a fun that's shared with the audience; it's hard not to have a good time.

The production itself is gorgeous. Company XIV's amazingly cool theatre (an old warehouse converted into a performance space) is prime real estate for the staging of this piece. The lighting and sound are perfect in the cavernous room and the technical design is top-notch. Their budget and production value seem atypically luxurious for a dance show in a grungy neighborhood in Brooklyn.


(The Apple Trilogy plays at 303 Bond Street in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Snow White is 1 hour, The Judgement of Paris is 1 hour and Le Serpent Rouge! is 1.5 hours. Tickets for Le Serpent Rouge and The Judgment of Paris are $25 for adults and $20 for students/seniors. Tickets for Snow White are $20 for adults and $15 for seniors/kids under 16. All tickets can be purchased online at SmartTix.com or by calling 212-868-4444. For more information visit www.companyxiv.com.)