Company XIV, a Brooklyn, New York, burlesque troupe, has delivered a fresh take on Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland, with their show Queen of Hearts.

The children’s story has long inspired trippy, psychedelic-esque variations, frequently crossing through the childlike realm into adult themes. Company XIV takes the adult themes to a new level with the theatrical piece Queen of Hearts.

Queen of Hearts is a slick combination of circus, dance, song and burlesque. In skimpy, eccentric clothing, performers bathed in red lighting execute Alice-inspired routines. Classic characters from the beloved book make their appearances throughout the performance, including Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the butterfly, and the Cheshire Cat.

This February marks Queen of Hearts’ third season inviting audience members to “peer into a decadent dreamworld laced with a mesmerizing blend of stunning circus, shining chanteuses, brilliant burlesque, classical dance, and lavish design.”

The theatrical piece follows Lady Alice, who feels trapped by the expectations of womanhood and the disembodied voice of her mother trying to control her. As she dreams of freedom, one night in bed, she is taken down the rabbit hole, to tumble through a new kind of dreamscape. Alice makes her way through the world, grows closer to self-actualization through pleasure and engages with the cast of Carrol’s story along the way.

Described by TimeOut as “Moulin Rouge! for actual Bohemians!”, the performance was written and directed by Austin McCormick, and has a runtime of 2 hours and 45 minutes, with one intermission.

Company XIV is located at 383 Troutman Street, Brooklyn, New York 11237. Queen of Hearts will be performed February through March 2025. Get tickets here!

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Article by Baila Eve Zisman

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