From the left, Judy Johnson, as Polo, Katey O’Malley, as Septica, and Jordan Wich, as Rolo, rehearse a scene from East Troy High School’s production of “Goody Two Shoes.” Dan Plutchak/Photo

East Troy High presents ‘Goody Two Shoes’

There are many ways that the good-versus-evil plot plays out in fairy tales.

If the lead characters are male, it’s likely they’ll fight to the death over a magic sword, lamp or medallion.

If the lead characters are female, though, there’s a good chance that a great pair of shoes is at the heart of the story.

Such is the case in “Goody Two Shoes,” a British panto-play by Paul Reakes, being performed at East Troy High School.

A family-oriented comedic romp, “Goody Two Shoes” relies heavily on slapstick, over-the-top fantasy, pantomime and audience participation.

Think “Punch and Judy” without the puppets, but with better footwear.

“Part of the cast is the audience, so the audience is involved and the characters interact with the audience,” says director Deb Williamson, who also owns the Creative Outlets Touring Theater Company with her husband, Phil.

“The audience will actually have lines they need to throw out in the show. It’s a challenge for high school kids, because they need to be ready for anything.”

What the cast in “Goody Two Shoes” needs to be ready for is the trouble brewing when Septica, an evil sorceress played by Caitlin O’Malley, leaves her favorite pair of magic shoes with an elf cobbler, played by Joshua Davis.

In typical children’s tale fashion, the shoes end up in the wrong hands and on the wrong feet.

In this case, it’s on the feet of Goody, played by Julia Kusenbaum. She’s the good daughter we take into our hearts the moment we see her.

No one is quite sure why it’s the evil women of stage and screen who always seem to have the best shoes, or why their wish-granting shoes always end up on the feet of their mirror opposites —- goody girls whose wishes promote harmony rather than discord.

Even O’Malley ponders this literary footwear conflict.

“Today, I was thinking about ‘The Devil Wears Prada,’ and how high heels represent that evil side of women or that more dark side.” says O’Malley, a senior, on why good girls are drawn to bad shoes.

“And when they transferred to the opposite version of that, it’s almost that surprise or ah-ha effect, that suspense in the story that makes you think, ‘Whoa, what just happened?’

“I think it’s almost like they want to take a chance on the wild side. It’s like they’re drawn to these shoes because it’s something out of their element.”

Off stage, O’Malley is a young woman who loves shoes. So she gets why shoes, even if they aren’t magic, can be starting point for female characters in a story.

“I’m a really big shoe girl,” she says. “But the thing about me is that I like really unique shoes. I have a pair of Chuck Taylor Converse shoes. They’re heels, but they’re Converse (tennis) shoes. Maybe you’ll get to see them if you come see the show …”

O’Malley says they aren’t the magic shoes, but the uncomfy shoes Septica has to wear when Goody gets her magic shoes.

“The magic shoes are actually flats with a lot of sequins on them,” she said. “They’re actually really cool, and I want a pair myself.”

TO DO

What: “Goody Two Shoes.”
Where: East Troy High School.
When: 7:30 p.m. March 27-28, 2 p.m. March 29.
Info: Tickets purchased in advance are $7 for adults and $4 for students, or $8 for adults and $5 for students at the door.