On Wednesday, April 14, 2021 I had the great pleasure of viewing KINKY BOOTS directed by Brett Sullivan, presented online by The Irvine Barclay Theater through April 20, 2021. The 2005 British-American film was inspired by a BBC documentary, Trouble At The Top, a true story of W.J. Brooks LTD, a shoe factory that primarily made men’s shoes. When sales dropped off, the owner salvaged the company by switching its production to the manufacturing of the “Divine” brand of footwear. The film version of Kinky Boots, directed by Julian Jarrold and written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth and starring Joel Edgerton as Charlie Prince and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Lola/Simon, was dazzling, but I admit that I enjoy this stage version even more. This production of Kinky Boots was captured live from London’s West End and although I viewed it on my computer monitor at home, much of the energy from the stage came through. The Barclay is also hosting the streaming of the musical 42nd Street May 12 – 18, 2021.
Considering the artists involved in this production, it is understandable why Kinky Boots won six awards at the 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Tony Award winning Harvey Fierstein authored the book for Kinky Boots, the direction and choreography was by six time Tony Awards nominee Jerry Mitchell, and Grammy and Emmy Awards winner Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics. It was truly a winning trio.
Kinky Boots is a love story, a struggle between father and son, an investigation into what makes a “real” man, what women are looking for in a man, being true to oneself, taking chances, and the acceptance of people for who they truly are all rolled up into one brilliantly produced comedy-drama musical. It is ‘dazzling, fabulously sassy and uplifting’ (Time Out) from the beginning scenes in the shoe factory in Northampton, England to the fashionable catwalks of Milan!
Charlie Price (Killian Donnelly) is the son of Mr. Price (Graham Kent) owner of the once lucrative shoe factory. Charlie is first introduced as a young lad (Charlie Underhill) running and playing inside his father’s factory. A young Lola (Temba Mliswa) is also seen being caught trying on a pair of red women’s shoes by his apparently abusive father.
Through the magic of theater and a brilliantly staged movement of the set, time passes in a flash and we meet the now mature Charlie who is nervously informing his father that he is leaving Northhampton and moving to London with his fiancée Nicole (Cordelia Farnworth). Mr. Price is of course upset but wishes his son well as do the factory workers who have known Charlie since birth. It is after Charlie and Nicole move to a small cramped flat in London that Charlie accidentally meets a professional drag queen named Lola and the fun begins.
Jerry Michell’s choreography and direction blend together seamlessly through this entire production. Every dance number is stunning and filled with humor, excitement, and the introduction and development of each and every character. The set by David Rockwell allows the characters to move from nightclub to factory and back again by the simple swiveling of a center set piece or the closing of a factory facade. Nothing in this production slows down the speed of this high paced musical theater production.
Matt Henry is amazing as Lola/Simon, wowing us as a dancing/singing drag queen performing in 6 inch heels as if he were born in them. Watching him switch from Lola to Simon and helping one understand the life path that created Lola is an acting tour de force. Equally challenging and brilliantly performed is the role of Charlie. Donnelly not only changes his singing delivery but alters his physicality as he matures into a more self-confident man independent of his father’s expectations of how his life should be live.
The six ensemble drag queens Jon Reynolds, Daniel Downing, Jak Allen-Anderson, Louis Clarke-Clare, Jed Berry, and Jemal Felix take ones breath away as they sing and dance their way into our hearts and amaze us with acrobatic feats in wigs and high heels.
One of my favorite characters in Kinky Boots was Lauren played here by the unequaled Natalie McQueen. She is Carol Burnette, Lucille Ball and Martha Raye all rolled into on bundle of endless energy, facial expressions, and physicality. Also, she can out sing all her predecessors. I wanted the numbers featuring Ms. McQueen to continue on.
Others who deserve singling out are Sean Needham as the ever-faithful and sometimes campy Don, and Antony Reed as the overly macho George who learns to accept Lola and Charlie for who they truly are.
The entire cast of Kinky Boots is amazing as are the costumes designed by Gregg Barnes, hair by Josh Marquette, and the lighting by Kenneth Posner that translates beautifully from stage to film.
The ensemble members include Ensemble: Anna Stolli, Jonathan Carlton, Jordan Fox, Rosie Glossop, Robert Grose, Graham Kent, Emma Odell, Abbey Addams, David Haydn, Keith Higham, Hannah Price, Tom Scanlon, and Olivia Winterflood. The Sound Designer was John Shivers, the UK Musical Director Jim Henson, and the Music Supervision, Arrangements and Orchestrations was by Stephen Oremus.
The Orchestra included Jim Henson (Musical Director/Keyboard 1), Carin Buckeridge (Assistant Musical Director/Keyboard 2), Steven Holness (Keyboard 2, Tom Clare (Drums), Phil Mulford (Bass Guitar), Matt Greaves (Guitar 1), Nick Kendall (Guitar 2), Mike Thomas (Trumpet), Simon Baker (Trombone), Neil Crossley (Reeds), Jeremy Isaac (Violin), and Vicky Matthews (Cello).
Kinky Boots continues its virtual run through April 20, 2021. For information and tickets, click HERE.
Runtime: 2 hours, 15 minutes (includes 1 intermission). Rating: Treat as PG
The Barclay Theatre is also presenting the musical 42nd Street May 12 – 18, 2021. For more information and tickets, click HERE.
To visit The Barclay Theatre website, click HERE.
Written by Jeff Slayton for LA Dance Chronicle.
Featured image: Matt Henry (Lola/Simon) and Killian Donnelly (Charlie) in Kinky Boots – Photo by Matt Crockett
