By Riley Fontana
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Michèle LaRue is a beloved guest at both Medfield Public Library and The Center at Medfield, recently returning for her fourth performance in town. She captivates audiences of all ages with her one-woman live readings of Gilded Age stories.
In her latest performance, LaRue presented two stories focused on women making independent choices and defying societal expectations. This set, titled “Women Breaking Loose,” featured “A Pair of Silk Stockings” by Kate Chopin (1897) and “Representing T. A. Buck” by Edna Ferber (1913). Both stories explored the tension between women's work and home lives during America’s Progressive Era.
LaRue brings these tales to life with a mastery of costuming and character voices, effortlessly transitioning between characters using small but impactful gestures, like adjusting her glasses or miming holding cigars. Each character was portrayed with clarity and distinction, showcasing LaRue’s impressive acting abilities.
The two stories, chosen for their parallel themes, explore the desires and conflicts faced by women. In “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” housewife Mrs. Sommers indulges in a rare moment of self-care, spending her own money on new shoes, a lunch, a play, and a pair of silk stockings—rather than buying necessities for her family. “Representing T. A. Buck,” follows Emma McChesney, a traveling saleswoman torn between her career and her longing to be a homemaker. Both stories highlight the struggles of women balancing personal desires with societal expectations.
LaRue uses minimal space to create vivid scenes, allowing the audience to imagine the shops and hotels described in the stories. Between each tale, she explained outdated terms and answered audience questions, helping listeners unfamiliar with the Gilded Age to better understand the context of the era.
With each performance, Michèle LaRue delivers a can't-miss experience in Medfield, sharing timeless, relatable stories while keeping the works of female authors alive.
