A Fairy Tale for Grown-Ups: Inside Company XIV's Petite Rouge

With roses, glitter, tarot cards, and a seductive reimagining of Little Red Riding Hood, Company XIV's Petite Rouge transports audiences into a decadent fairy tale inspired by the French court and Belle Époque theater.

There are few companies in New York that understand atmosphere as completely as Company XIV.

Their latest production, Petite Rouge, reimagines Charles Perrault's seventeenth-century French version of Little Red Riding Hood as a decadent fever dream of roses, glitter, temptation, and transformation. Yet what makes the production memorable is not simply its sensuality. It is the feeling that, for a few hours, you have wandered into another time entirely. A really fun, naughty, seductive take on a familiar plot.

Before the show even begins, audiences are invited into Company XIV's meticulously crafted world. On the evening I attended, I received a tarot card reading that felt hauntingly accurate. The cocktails continued the spell. "The Lady in Red," a sparkling combination of champagne brut, French black raspberry liqueur, a cranberry lollipop, and edible glitter, was one of the best drinks I've had in the city. The equally delightful "Baroque Pearl" featured French sparkling wine, lychee liqueur, cocktail pearls, and an aphrodisiac spritz. Every detail felt intentional.

That attention to detail is what separates Company XIV from other immersive theatrical experiences. Many productions create spectacle. Company XIV creates a world.

The theater glows with rosy reds and shimmering light. The performers move through a landscape that feels equally inspired by Versailles, Belle Époque cabaret, and fairy tale fantasy. As a history enthusiast, this is perhaps my favorite aspect of the company's work. The references never feel superficial or costume-deep. Instead, there is an immersive historical undertone that makes the audience feel as though they have stepped into a French court entertainment centuries ago.

The fairy tale itself proves to be an ideal choice. Long before it became a children's story, Little Red Riding Hood functioned as a cautionary tale about temptation, desire, and the loss of innocence. Company XIV leans into those themes with confidence. Here, Petite Rouge's journey is not merely one of danger but of transformation.

At the center of the production is the relationship between Petite Rouge and the Wolf. Their scenes together crackle with chemistry. The choreography is exciting, sensual, and beautifully executed, transforming a familiar fairy tale dynamic into something far more complex and compelling.

Of course, Company XIV has always understood that seduction works best when paired with humor. One of the evening's highlights was the appearance of Grand-mère, portrayed by a male performer with cartoonishly sagging breasts. The absurdity of the performance had the audience delighted with laughter. Set to a song about "Grand-mère," it also served as a clever nod to the French court aesthetic that runs throughout the production. This was for sure one of the highlights of the entire performance.

There were countless moments of visual beauty. One particularly memorable image featured a performer carried into an aisle atop a platter, hidden beneath lace before emerging into song. It was elegant, theatrical, and perfectly representative of the show's dreamlike quality.

What I appreciate most about Company XIV is that despite the glamour, the audience never feels trapped in a scene of performative exclusivity. This is Brooklyn, after all. Some guests arrive dressed for a royal ball, while others show up in jeans. Nobody seems concerned with seeing or being seen. The atmosphere is decadent but welcoming, glamorous but playful.

When the evening ended, the thing I carried home was not a single performance or joke, though there were many memorable ones. It was the feeling of having briefly stepped into another era. As a history nerd…swoon.

In a city overflowing with entertainment options, Company XIV continues to offer something increasingly rare: not just a show, but a transportive experience.

Petite Rouge is a sparkling reminder that fairy tales were never really meant for children.