My High Heeled Life - Long Title, Brave Dialogue, & Enticing

Genre definition = Naughty · Intellectual · Intimate

Waiting for a performance to begin is normally a solo affair. If you are lucky to have other people you know with you, the experience becomes somewhat less fulfilling. For me, anyway. Of course, don’t get me wrong, I like it when my friends attend the theatre with me. It is a far too rare occasion these days. But I also enjoy a good, singular think - and most of the time, a dark and reasonably quiet theatre is a great place for it. I like the feeling of having found my seat and, while I look at the stage, I begin to ponder what the show may be about. (Weirdly, I don’t do this with film.)

I admit, My High-Heeled Life didn’t appeal to me. Yet, as per my usual routine, I didn’t read what it was about prior to the show. I secretly hoped it wasn’t going to be a grandiose shock factor show about someone’s sexual foot fetish or some boring historical lesson regarding female footwear. I couldn’t handle that. No way.

But I couldn’t have my think for this show. My High-Heeled Life starts out with the character already on stage. I had seen this before (as the audience enters the theatre, the performers are already visible) but rarely have I seen performers take full advantage like Katharine McLeod. With her back turned from the audience, she applied her makeup and also did a bit of work on her hair in full view of the audience. I smiled.

I mean, why not? It was smile worthy. This show was turning out to be something completely unlike what I had imagined. My smile got bigger. When the lights dimmed and she turned to the audience, she asked a simple question.

“Are any of you truly happy?”

She balanced for the slightest of moments on her heels and smiled. Why wouldn’t she? She is beautiful and confident. The bright lipstick and black dress speak volumes. Her demeanor whispers confidence. We are being treated to someone who appears to be at the top of her game. She is woman, hear her roar! 

She looked around the audience and appeared pleased (which may have also had a touch of surprise) when a number of hands went up. I noted that about half did and it was a small audience. I didn’t raise my hand. “We are all lime-green monsters,” I thought quietly to myself. Did I feel like a pessimist? Or was it some bad chili from lunch? It may have been both. But I soon learned that I wasn’t alone.

Katharine McLeod started telling us a story about life in New York, how shoes marked important milestones in her life, and how they were empowering to wear. But she didn’t just mean they empowered her - they empowered all women. She attributed high heels as a symbol for women to strive toward. They were not just footwear but an equalizer between the sexes. 

As the show continued, Katherine spoke and knowledge flew about the stage. Facts about shoes and how they can be attributed to various historical events bounced about the room. The story she told was almost indistinguishable from her emotional construct. I was amazed.

And then, the monologue broke. I don’t mean in a bad way. I mean the character began to crack, revealing the true story behind the shoes. Pain seeped through and secrets were glimpsed. The show reveals a subtle mastery of storytelling that allowed even myself to be lulled into a sense that this show was just an overview of a life where no depth of character was be glimmered. Yet, it all changed about 40 minutes in. I don’t want to spoil the story, I think you must enjoy it for yourselves. 

Which brings me back to being a pessimist about happiness. I am happy. But I am not so elated with existence that we should consider our every waking moment as a happy one. At the beginning of the show, that is what the woman in the black dress wants us to believe. As we follow along on the journey, we learn the truth.

See it.

By Shane Birley
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