Company XIV’s “Queen of Hearts” in Brooklyn!

I think four of my last five blog posts have been made at cruising altitude, flying to or from a major city. Right now, @guthrie, @vermillionfox and myself are 40,000’ above our good friend, @robrigo and the @eosdetroit team, en route to Minneapolis. For some added excitement, @guthrie just lost his second tooth of the trip. They’re both watching movies; @guthrie with a mouthful of bloody napkins, while I write and try to distract myself from the occasional turbulence. I can’t wait to be safely on the ground and sleep in my own bed.

This is typically a freewrite opportunity, but in my last post, “Milestones, Manhattan and magic!”, I mentioned our experience at Company XIV’s production of “Queen of Hearts” deserved it’s own blog. That’s what this will be. I can safely say, @vermillionfox and I are both still reeling from the visual extravaganza and I’d like to do it justice with a dedicated account of what we heard, tasted and saw those evenings in New York. I can’t stress enough to any Steemian in Manhattan how memorable “Queen of Hearts” was. For those who aren’t new New York, enjoy.

As I mentioned, I received an email from a Company XIV staff some weeks ago inviting me to attend the production during my dates in New York. I was initially skeptical. After visiting Company XIV’s social media page, it felt too good to be true. I continued back and forth with their staff, found a date they’d be performing and my schedule was clear, then committed to arriving in Bushwick Sunday evening, my first few hours in New York City before the shoot madness began. I savored the unknowns about what the show would be. In my advance age, I sometimes enjoy these surprises.

From curtain up, to curtain down, the entire three hours left me in awe. As the name implies, “Queen of Hearts” references Lewis Carrol’s Alice in Wonderland. Every detail was intentional and brilliant, to bring this performance to life. An remarkable talented cast of characters, all unique in their own way, with ample during each act to showcase what made them special. I’ve been to burlesque shows, but this was something of a play/burlesque/fetish and fashion hybrid. It will forever be the bar for my performance art expectations going forward.

@vermillionfox, @guthrie and I met @bonni and my step father in Philadelphia one week ago. From there, I went on to New York and they made their way to Scranton. As I left, star-struck from “Queen of Hearts”, it became clear I had to bring @vermillionfox to witness this spectacle. After some correspondence with Company XIV, I’d made plans to return to New York with @vermilliofnox Friday. Considering the pace and travel of the shoots I had that week, it was a daunting commitment, having to travel back to Scranton, then back to New York, then back to Scranton. It’d be worth it.

Years ago, when @vermillionfox and I first met, I sat her down for Rocky Horror Picture Show, a cult film she’d never seen. I think it ignited something in her for men in drag and lingerie, and no production could have delivered on those promises than Company XIV’s “Queen of Hearts”. It was more than just eye candy, though. There was real candy! As scantly clad dancers walked across the stage with signs that read “Eat Me!”, they passed small chocolate truffles out of the audience. A muscle bound man in make-up and a thong walked by us juggling small wrapped candies.

After the first act, the distinct brand of this show was understood. It was meant to over achieve, and everyone involved did just that. A women spinning at dizzying speeds inside a giant hula hoop. A contortionist in full bodied latex bondage, smoking a long stem cigarette brought the the stage and set beneath a sign that read “The Caterpiller”. The Mad Hadder, a classically trained opera singer with a voice that resonated throughout the entire venue, achepela, while grape-vining her limbs through a spinning grown mounted 20’ above the audience.

I could go on, but I’m disciplining myself to walk the line between paying “Queen of Hearts” it’s just homage, and giving away more of the performance than I should. With that in mind, enjoy the imagery and videos, but please do yourself a favor and make this production a priority if you’re anywhere near New York City. It runs until August of this year. Thank you for reading and following our trip throughout the east coast. For more photography, art, illustration and the stories behind the work, follow me here @kommienezuspadt. Have a great day.