Cinderella
When has a show left you speechless? If the answer is never, then you have not been to the right places. Company XIV is one of those right places.
I will spare you all the praise that will likely fall short of doing this show justice, and simply tell you that Company XIV’s “baroque burlesque” Cinderella is the apogee of contemporary artistic achievement. Imagine a Juilliard-trained choreographer freed from the fetters of conventional theater; the plot, the character development, the nuanced back-and-forths—they all felt secondary to pure, unrestrained, creative expression. The sexy little-dressed performers were at once, singers, acrobats, dancers, and actors, all with that remarkable sprezzatura that knocks skill up to the level of art.
The light design was a show all on its own. Elongated silhouettes were cast onto the foggy stage contributing to a chiaroscuro of breathing bodies. When the curtain came up in Act II for the introduction of the star of the show, the set was striking: Katrina Cunningham as the fairy godmother was veiled and attached to pale pink balloons looming over her head as she floated to the front of the stage. As I started to try and decipher who this notable character was and what her function would be, she started to sing, and all was forgotten.
I attended with my roommate, Hannah (left)
This is a show that encourages its members to get lost in every moment. You do not need to keep track of characters or plot details, or try and observe any subtle hints—just sit back and let the show happen to you.
Guest review by Sasha Rezvina
Sasha is a freelance writer who loves all forms of creative composition. She only just recently found a home in the best city in the world, and she is quickly developing an opinion on everything in it.
Side notes:
163 Bleecker St
We ate at a wonderful little Chinese restaurant named Uncle Ted's, right around the corner from the theater. My recommendation? The dumplings! Trust me, we tried all of them, and all of them were fantastic. It was the perfect place for me to be informed that I was not about to see a Rodgers and Hammerstein version of Cinderella, but a burlesque show! So if you need a place to reset your expectations while scarfing down some delectable meatballs wrapped in dough—this is the place to do it.
