If you are lucky enough to have or get a ticket, you will see a creative, well sung, finely acted and exceptionally danced dynamo of a show, which not only entertains, but has several poignant messages.
KINKY BOOTS is a musical, with music and lyrics by Tony, Emmy and Grammy-winner, Cyndi Lauper, with book by her friend, Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein, author of such scripts as LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES, TORCH SONG TRILOGY and NEWSIES.
It is based on a true story of a men’s shoe factory in England which, when the cheap mass produced Asian knock-offs invaded the market, wiping out the handmade products, transitioned to producing for a niche market…cross-dressing men who needed a sturdy boot that the Asians couldn’t produce.
The story, which was made into a 1999 British TV special, then a 2005 film, centers on Charlie Price, who is left a man’s high end shoe company in Northampton, England, by his father, and Lola, a she-male who has a fascination with shoes, but her eyes are set on red, high-heeled boots. The duo form a partnership when Charlie is faced with bankruptcy, causing the layoff of his loyal employees, and Lola, a drag queen/entertainer who, along with her dancing Angels, keeps breaking the heels on their poorly made and designed boots. It’s a match made in heaven, except for the prejudices against Lola, and the financial and personal pressures pressed on Charlie.
Take the story, which stresses that to be happy in life you must “accept someone for who they are,” add some pop, funk, new wave tango music, add lyrics that are perfectly drawn for each character, add humorous situations, and dynamic choreography, and you have a show which was given 13 Tony nominations and garnered 6 Tony wins, including Best Musical and Best Score.
Having seen both, I can assure you that the touring production is as good as the original Broadway production.
Handsome Darius Harper lights up the stage as Lola. He has a strong singing voice, athletic dance moves, and the outward charisma that makes Lola appealing, while showing vulnerability. He is a drag queen extraordinaire. His “Land of Lola,” sung with the Angels, is a showstopper.
Steven Booth can belt with the best of Broadway male stars. As Charlie, he displays a personal vulnerability and insecurity that perfectly fit the character’s underpinnings, yet, the strength to act with conviction when needed. He doesn’t portray Charlie, he is Charlie.
Booth’s “Soul of a Man “ and “Not My Father’s Son,” his duet with Harper, are emotional tear-jerkers that carry two of the script’s messages.
Lindsay Nicole Chambers is charming as Lauren, the girl who has a history of making bad choices as expressed the well sung “The History of Wrong Guys.”
As Don, Joe Coots makes the transition from macho lug to charmer with ease as he takes to heart the idea of “accept someone for who they are!,” the center piece of Fierstein’s bid for tolerance and acceptance.
Director and choreographer, Jerry Mitchell, has paced the show well, created many exciting dance numbers including “Everybody Say Yeah,” and the curtain closer, “Raise You Up/Just Be,” and created an endearing production.
As is becoming the pattern, several Baldwin Wallace graduates are in this Broadway touring production. Patty Lohr (class of 2008) understudies several roles, while also being a swing, while Ryan Garrett (2012) is the Associate Conductor.
CAPSULE JUDGEMENT: KINKY BOOTS is the kind of musical that seeing it once is not enough. The music, the storyline, the humor, the stage excitement makes this a very, very special theatrical experience. The touring production of the show is as good as the Broadway show. This is one staging that deserves a standing ovation, not just the automatic polite Cleveland one, but a real, well-deserved one. Bravo!
BTW…get to the theatre in time to read Gina Vernaci’s “Program Note.” It’s a wonderful verbal picture of the show, but it also says a lot about the lady who “puts the Broadway stuff” on our local stages!
The few tickets that remain for KINKY BOOTS, which runs through April 19, 2015, at the Connor Palace Theatre, can be ordered by calling 216-241-6000 or going to www.playhousesquare.org.
