'The Red Shoes' returns to Open Eye Theatre with its fairytale story turned noir

Oct. 16—"The Red Shoes" are afoot again at Open Eye Theatre.

Described as a "film noir fairytale," the production was first seen in 2017. An expanded remount was shut down by the pandemic after one preview performance in March 2020. Now, it's back. "Red Shoes" features actor Kimberly Richardson (as it did in previous incarnations) and was conceived, designed and directed by Joel Sass, Open Eye's producing artistic director.

"The Red Shoes" gets its name from from a Hans Christian Andersen story about a young girl and a pair of red shoes, according to Open Eye. This version "further explores elements of detective fiction, multiple personality and psychological mystery." And there are dolls, masks and manipulated objects.

In a review of the 2017 show, Pioneer Press theater critic Dominic Papatola said: "Probably the best adjective to describe 'The Red Shoes' is 'intricate.' It's a pleasing puzzlement with lots of moving parts, a story that constantly morphs in scale and a staging that keeps you guessing."

The show runs through Oct. 31 at Open Eye Theatre in Minneapolis. Tickets are $26-$18, available at openeyetheatre.org. The show is recommended for 14 and older.

Also from Open Eye: Night Shade at the Bakken. Open Eye Theatre brings the puppet collective Night Shade from Portland, Ore., and Mr. Bonetangles from Austin, Texas, to the rooftop of the Bakken museum for a special Halloween puppetry extravaganza. 7 p.m. Oct. 21-31; $24; Bakken Museum, 3537 Zenith Ave. S., Mpls.