Kinky Boots, based on the 2005 British dramedy film, was written for the stage by Harvey Fierstein with music by Cyndi Lauper. It tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Charlie Price, who inherits his fathers failing shoe company, and Lola, a drag queen from London who inspires Charlie and helps him save the company. On a trip to London, Charlie takes a blow to the head trying to protect Lola from men accosting her on the street. He recovers backstage at Lola’s show and in talking with Lola about her busted heel gets an ingenious idea that just may save the factory. With the help of Lola and her Angels, they design a new line of shoes with the sparkly, sexiness befitting a drag queen and the stability to support a man and manage to convince the team at the factory on board with production for a fashion show in Milan.
The set design was inspired. Elaborate set pieces transformed from the dark and dull shoe store in Northampton to the glittery set of the Angel’s Drag Show before your eyes. Creative sets and staging combined with exciting choreography for some unforgettable scenes. One of my favorites was “Everybody Say Yeah” where Charlie and Lola pump up the factory workers and the Angels as they start producing Kinky Boots. With 4 operational conveyor belts on stage, people are flying left and right, flipping around the handles of the belts and it all was seamless! Another amazing scene is the fight scene where people sub in for sets in such a creative and unique way.
The costumes were the next standout of the show, designed by Gregg Barnes. There is a great dichotomy between the glitz and glamor of Lola and the Angels, and the plainness of the factory workers that helped you appreciate the tensions the two groups need to work through. And the boots!! What can’t you say about these boots! In the final scene we are dazzled with dozens of fantastic thigh high, rhinestone covered, 6 inch heeled boots that made my choice of flats for the evening seem very uninspired.
The showstopper of the entire show is most definitely Kyle Taylor Parker as Lola. His singing is phenomenal, his portrayal of Lola will make you laugh, cry, and want to be a better person, and he does it all in 6 inch stilettos. Steven Booth is great as Charlie, and there was a great chemistry between him and Lola on stage as their friendship develops, is challenged and comes out even stronger in the end. Another highlight for me was Lindsay Nicole Chambers as Lauren. One of my favorite songs of the night was her song – “The History of the Wrong Guys”. Her comedic style on stage and powerhouse voice was a perfect combo.
Overall, the show wows with a great mix of characters, fabulous costumes, catchy music, exciting choreography that plays well with a creative set and of course incredible shoes! Kinky Boots will be in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre through July 26th and it is a must see!
