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)
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)
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)
