If you're going to dance to 1980s Metallica, even slightly muted strings versions, edginess is key.

Projecting edginess takes a lot of energy, and on Friday night, members of Kanopy Dance Company pulled it off in "After the Fall."

With contributions from six different choreographers, and danced by Kanopy's primary and secondary companies, "After the Fall" was the anti-storybook ballet. It's for every dancer who ever longed to sink their toes into harsher music and themes instead of sugary sweet pink tulle and Tchaikovsky.

The show is not a new one. Kanopy last performed "After the Fall" in 2006.

Save for occasional inconsistencies among a few of the troupe's younger dancers, "After the Fall" was strongly performed.

The fun, Halloween-inspired show wasn't synopsized in the program, but revolved around an evil puppet master who appeared to be manipulating a man who wore his hair in a bright green Mohawk. They were surrounded by china dolls, a Greek chorus and women in bright dress and black facial shrouds.

A few performers always stand out, and Friday night was no exception.

Deserving praise were 13-year-old Annie Rosebear-Ace, a member of Kanopy's teenage Company Two who performed in the Greek chorus; and adult company members Meg Johnson, who was one of three women in shrouds, and Yoshie Fujimoto Kateada, who was one of three china dolls.

Rosebear-Ace offered presence beyond her years, with gracefully fluid movements and particularly pretty arms and upper body work. And she did a wonderful job of sticking to character, even in the final moments of the finale as she jerked, Frankenstein-like, into the wings.

Johnson offered energy through the roof and great spirit, particularly in moments when she had to stick out her tongue in a ghastly way, not unlike how metal musicians often contort their faces. And Fujimoto Kateada was rock-solid in her movements and fun to watch miming.

In general, the cast was having a good time. Robert Cleary, as the puppet master, was particularly fun to watch as he strutted in a long cape and white monster facial make-up, laughing silently like a mad scientist.

And Mohawk Man Juan Carlos Diaz Velez's expressive eyes helped pull off the sense that he was descending into madness.

Technically, Diaz Velez and Fujimoto Kateada nicely executed a series of difficult partnered lifts.

A nod has to go to the make-up and costume designers for wonderfully effective, original work. The china doll costumes and faces, in particular, were beautiful.

"After the Fall" will be performed again Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Overture Center's Promenade Hall. Tickets are $24 for adults and $22 for children and students.