Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake

This audacious revision turns Tchaikovsky’s dainty and classic ballet on its head. And in the process, it shakes out a story with more complexity, emotional depth, and humor than any production of Swan Lake we’ve seen before. A bare-chested bevy of cobs–that’s the word for male swans, you know–helps express the frustrations of a young prince who is struggling to find his place in the royal world, understand his sexuality, and forge relationships with uptight family members and exotic new friends. This thoroughly modern psychological drama takes the prince to dark places where drugs, suicide, and repression help uncover deeply buried truths. But a thick edge of humor, along with bold staging and special effects, makes this event as thrilling as it is thought-provoking. 805 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-339-7007; www.hennepintheatredistrict.com