David Gordon’s “Trying Times (Remembered),” which revisits the postmodern choreographer’s 1982 “Trying Times,” opened Dec. 3 at REDCAT. Nick Bruder, left, Leslie Cuyjet, Cameron Evans and Marcus Phillips perform. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
David Gordon’s “Trying Times (Remembered)” at REDCAT
Valda Setterfield, front, plays a defense attorney in a courtroom scene. In the 1982 original, Gordon was criticized for asking his troupe to talk while dancing and for the hubris of taking on a ballet classic -- elements that soon came to define 1980s postmodernism. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
The play is performed by members of David Gordon’s New York-based Pick Up Performance Co.(S) and a clutch of dance students from California Institute of the Arts. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Original cast members were introduced on screen in a black-and-white film that then accompanied danced sections set to the original score for “Apollo,” Igor Stravinsky’s “Apollon Musagete.” (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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Melissa Bourkas, left, Erika Marosi and Leslie Cuyjet. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Valda Setterfield is David Gordon’s wife and longtime muse. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
The new version, with Valda Setterfield, paid honor to the 1982 edition. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Leslie Cuyjet, left, Niall Jones, Marcus Phillips and Karen Graham. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
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Melissa Bourkas and Rachel Abrahams are among the able dancers from CalArts. Others are Kelsey Boone, Nicholas Bruder, Cameron Evans, Shirel Hernandez, Erika Marosi and Jason Williams. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
Marcus Phillips and Leslie Cuyjet. (Lawrence K. Ho / Los Angeles Times)
