NCC takes on the risks of ‘Spike Heels’
By Annie Alleman For Sun-Times Media February 3, 2011 12:34PM
SPIKE HEELS
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 11 and 12
Where: North Central College’s Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
How much: $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors
Contact: 630-637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:25AM
“Spike Heels” — the wearing of and the play of the same name — might be a little risky, but so is falling in love.
That’s kind of the theme of “Spike Heels,” the new student-directed dramedy premiering Feb. 10 to 12 at North Central College’s Madden Theatre in Naperville.
Courtney Ohler, a junior theater and psychology major from Normal, directs this rendition of Theresa Rebeck’s play as part of the College’s Student Director Series.
While love is the overall theme of the play, it’s not exactly the typical Valentine’s Day fare. The show contains strong language and suggestive material — including an accusation of rape.
The critically-acclaimed 1990 play deals with the changing roles of men and women in a feminist society, shown through the main character Georgie and her relationships.
“It’s a cast of four, two women and two men. They author describes it as ‘Pygmalion gone awry,’” Ohler said. “It’s a love square; it’s very complicated. It’s all about sexuality, how sexuality is portrayed, how men and women act towards each other, and the issue of rape. There are a lot of feminist qualities in the show.”
The main character is Georgie, a young lady who’s had a rough life. Her upstairs neighbor Andrew, a professor, has been mentoring her and got her a job in his best friend’s law office as a secretary.
Georgie, who exemplifies sexuality, loves Andrew. Andrew is engaged to the prudish Lydia. Lydia doesn’t care much about femininity, but admits to Georgie that her spike heels “make her legs look amazing.”
The action opens with Georgie telling Andrew about how her boss — his best friend Edward — threatened to rape her.
“Andrew talks about her falling into bed with any man that looks at her, but she feels that’s empowering, that’s control over her own life,” Ohler said. “Some people will be satisfied with the show, some people won’t. There’s an interesting twist at the end. The play is technically called a comedy, even though I don’t see it like that. I see it as realistic. It’s difficult to talk about (the rape threat) … but we leave it in there. The fact that it doesn’t actually occur makes it easier.”
Her young actors are handling it well, she said.
“They’re all fearless.”
Ohler was attracted to the play because of the realism.
“It was this slice of life,” she said. “If you don’t have the right person, they’ll come along sometime. It’s a good play before Valentine’s Day. It has some hard issues and some language, but it’s really about caring for other people.”
The cast for “Spike Heels” includes sophomore Rebekah Thurston of Chatham as Georgie; freshman Cullen Rogers of North Aurora as Andrew; freshman Evan Michalic of Elburn as Edward; and freshman Carlee Fields of Clinton as Lydia.
Freshman Bethany Schick of Yorkville is the stage manager.
SPIKE HEELS
When: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10, 11 and 12
Where: North Central College’s Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave., Naperville
How much: $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors
Contact: 630-637-7469 or northcentralcollege.edu/showtix
