If the current Hollywood trend of remaking every beloved movie from your childhood (often badly) has you agonizing over your entertainment options, Trip the Dark has a solution: Go see the movie as a dance instead. On June 16 and 17 at North Portland’s Headwaters Theatre, you can catch the final performances of The Goblin King, which retells ’80s classic Labyrinth not just once, but three times—through the eyes of Sarah, King Jareth, and Hoggle.
In true Bowie fashion, gender is fluid and so are the characters. No one person plays a single role: Instead, the parts are shared (and sometimes multiplied) and indicated through costuming. Rather than rely on the spectacle and special effects of a big budget, this show goes full-on DIY. It occasionally employs props and set pieces (including some delightfully squishy ones), but some of the best scenes are staged using the dancers’ bodies.