I Stepped on My Own Foot – A Metaphor for Life

The first weekend of Vera Stark performances is under our belts. Some actors have photos and memories to carry with them for the rest of their lives. Me, on the other hand, I have a bruise. Because I stepped on my own foot.

Let me set this up...

In the show I do quite a bit of running around. In heels. I'm up the stairs, down the stairs, crossing to exit stage right, then running back around to exit left. And in the middle of the running around business in the last scene before intermission, I managed to step on the top of my left foot with the spike heel from my right. How?  Who knows? I still had lines (important words about salami that are simply integral to the plot), which I did manage to get out, but I had stars in my eyes; everything went black for a beat, and then the next few moments on stage went in slow motion. That was a pain like no other I have ever experienced.

I exited and sat down on the side, breathing through the pain, trying to pay attention to the scene for my next entrance. All that was running through my mind was "How does someone step on themselves?" Then the funny set in and I started laughing at myself. Me managing to step on my own foot is such a metaphor for my life right now.

I know what you're thinking. Let's see the bruise, already! Well, it hasn't appeared, yet. It's so deep that it's going to be another day or two before it surfaces, but it's there.  Oh, it's there - the limp has set in. Tying my shoes this morning was an absolute joy, let me tell you.

I'm particularly happy that the man reviewing the show hadn't been there to see that.

Bonus Video - Behind the Making of the Movie within the Play