Shoes as a Metaphor for a Woman's Life Journey

Jean Anderson of the VSA & Jan Gordon

Accomplished soap opera actress Tina Sloan (30 years on The Guiding Light), presented a charming and thoughtful reverie on getting older

(not OLD) with style, humor and grace at the newly-restored Stanford White Casino Theater in Newport, RI recently.

Based on Ms. Sloan's memoir, also entitled Changing Shoes, the one-woman stage show was artfully done, with a screen behind, the stage set packed with shoe boxes, and Ms. Sloan's talking about her life and career following the advice of her Parisian friend, Aga, who told her: when at a crossroads, buy a pair of shoes to take you to the proper place. The teen-aged Tina began with pink Chanel heels, then went through boots, pink Capezios, unattractive flats, and evening shoes while telling her life story, which included finding her husband, having a son, Renny, and raising him. The section when her son goes to the Iraq War became a little discursive, but all ended well.

Flanked by friends, Marjorie Spencer & Leith Adams await the show

Oh, and Ms. Sloan initially tapped her way onto the stage in (theatrical) tap shoes.

Topsy Taylor was called onto the stage by Jan Gordon, who served as introducer for the evening. The performance was arranged by these ladies, and benefited The Visiting Nurse Services of Newport &

Bristol Counties.. The agency's president, Jean Anderson, greeted arrivals at the door.

Newport Seen was a bit surprised to find a few gentlemen in the audience, including Visiting Nurse supporter Captain Dick Erwin, Ms. Sloan's husband, Steve McPherson, the intrepid Greg Fater and Jack Coletta. It was not a Ladies' night, but preponderantly so, as Mary Riggs, Linda Gordon, Carol Ballard, Kim Herrlinger, Bunny Quinn, Marilyn Bardes, Janet Pell and daughter Tripler seated themselves for the performance.

Dodo Hamilton with VNS's Terry Murphy

While trying on the pink Capezios and the boots, a pastiche of scenes from "The Guiding Light", unlikely and melodramatic appeared on the screen -- definitely "soap operatic" stuff.

After the performance, the smiling actress signed books in the foyer of the Casino Theater, her husband spoke with guests, and the audience left, inspired.

-- L.P.

Proceeds from the evening benefited Home Care, Hospice and Community Wellness programs of Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties.