Review-'Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?'

By FRANK PHILLIPS
frankphi@hotmail.com

"Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?’ may not be well-known outside of theatrical circles, but it is a grand show.
The musical follows the lives of eight Catholic school students from age 6 through high school graduation. The title comes from the supposed teaching that black patent leather shoes allow little boys to see what’s underneath little girls’ dresses. As the elderly Sister Lee teaches the girls, "Don’t wear white pearls because they reflect down and don’t go with a boy to a restaurant that has white tablecloths because they remind boys of bed."
Whether or not the teaching is familiar to Catholic school students, there is much in the musical that is identifiable to all of us. The children struggle with the teachings of the church. In her first Confession, Becky confesses she had a piece of cake the night before. When the priest (an Irish priest!) says cake is not a sin, Becky says her mother believes it to be a sin because Becky is overweight and she worries that no one will ever love her.
Eddie is thin enough, but worries because studies come hard to him. Becky and Eddie become "Friends, the Best of…" and the play follows their relationship through her decision to become a nun and beyond.
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre offers "Black Patent Leather Shoes" Tuesday-Sunday. A buffet is served 6:30-7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m.
There are also Wednesday and Sunday matinees.
The show stars Curt Dale Clark as Eddie, Cory Goodrich as Becky, Donna Ryan as Sister Lee, Charles Goad as Father O’Reilly, Doug King as Felix, Deb Wims as Virginia, Randall Frizado as Louie and Ryhn McLemore as Mary.
For more information, call the box office at (317) 872-9664, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily.
Beef & Boards is located on Michigan Road between the Holiday Inn and the pyramids.