The show that packs a punch – in more ways than one! This show has it all, razzle dazzle (and did I see a vajazzle…?!) This show oozes sex and is completely unapologetic. It is high energy; high heeled and certainly makes you come out strutting your stuff, head held high, and high on life!
'Kinky Boots' is the Broadway masterpiece of Cyndie Lauper and Harvey Fierstein, based on the motion picture by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth. The story is based around love, loss and acceptance, as we follow Charlie and Lola on their quest to be accepted for who they are. This well-loved Broadway musical tells the story of Charlie Price, who having inherited a failing family shoe factory makes it his business to turn it into a success. He forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret singer and drag performer Lola, and together they design and produce a line of high-heeled boots to fill the hole (no pun intended) in a much needed niche market, designing fetish footwear, for men. On their journey to save Price & Sons, they realize that they are not altogether so different after all.
Set in Northampton, Price and Son is a failing shoe factory run by Mr. Price Senior. We quickly learn that his only heir to the business has no intention of taking the reins and moves to London to live the high life with his fiancée. After learning about the loss of his father, Charlie returns to the village he grew up in, to uncover the state of the affairs his father left the business in, and sets about letting his devoted staff go. This was played particularly well by Charlie (Joel Harper-Jackson) as we could see and feel the angst in having to let go whom he considers his family and closest friends. In drowning his sorrows, Charlie inadvertently finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ends up knocked out. As he returns to full consciousness, we see Lola has taken him in, at her local establishment, and from there, a true friendship is born. Enter Lola. A 6ft 5, dressed-up-to-the-nines drag queen. And she was FAB-U-LOUS. Played by Kayi Ushe, the audience instantly warmed to her jovial ways, her play on words, and her extremely awkward innuendos. Watching Charlie squirm really got the audience giggling, especially as Lola (Ushe) had a real command of the dialogue and an excellent stage presence. Both Harper-Jackson (Charlie) and Ushe (Lola) portrayed their parts convincingly, we felt moved, in different respects in learning about the passing of their fathers, and I must mention the particularly moving number ‘Not My Father's Son’ which tells Lola’s story of how s/he grew up, but which also resonates beautifully with Charlie’s own story of him and his father's relationship.
The moving lyrics, and beautiful soft piano were matched with expert timing, body language and movement from both characters. In truth we were treated to impressive performances from all leads. Helen Ternent portrayed Charlie’s fiancée Nicola, as seemingly snobby, concerned with the materialistic aspects of life, and so steadfast in wanting the leave their humble beginnings behind them, which was played in excellent contrast to Paula Lane’s Lauren, who incorporated the theme of ‘acceptance’ into her character sublimely. The two female leads were in complete contrast from their costumes to their singing performances. Lane embodied the youthful exuberance of Cyndie Lauper's pop career in the delivery of her solo performance ‘The History Of Wrong Guys.’
A special mention of course to Lola’s Angels. The Angels were sleek, svelte and sexy as hell! From their first entrance they turned heads in all the right ways. You could see the audience nudge, wink and raise their eyebrows to their neighbours trying to work out ‘is she… isn’t she…’ and they left nothing to the imagination. The Angels seriously worked their stage, and I was in awe of their choreography during the final number of the first half ‘Everybody Say Yeah.’
This production has an obvious cult following, and many of the audience appreciated the performance we saw. Having never seen or even heard any of the music before, I was excited to see what it was all about. From the clever use of a two-tiered set, eye-popping costumes, and dazzling performances, I can’t wait to see this show again, and I will certainly follow the crowd next time, taking a turn in my own ‘kinky’ boots.
Reviewer - Jen O'Beirne
on - 1/10/19
No comments:
Post a Comment