by Tony Annicone
Theatre by the Sea’s closing musical of their 89th season is the 6 Time Tony Award winning musical “Kinky Boots” with book by Harvey Fierstein and music by Cyndi Lauper. Owner and producer Bill Hanney spares no expense in bringing the incredible musical to this historic Rhode Island Theatre. This show is based on true events in Northampton, England. After inheriting the shoe factory from his father, Charlie Price struggles to keep his family business open. He isn’t really interested in the family business due to his fiancée Nicola but in order to keep it afloat has to lay off 15 employees. Lola, a fabulous, sassy and popular female impersonator comes up with a wild and crazy way to save Charlie’s shoe business but also teaches people about love and acceptance of people who are different. Charlie and Lola create a partnership but also learn important lessons from each other. And with a little bit of understanding this unexpected pair learns to embrace their differences and create a line of stilettos unlike any the world has seen. Director/choreographer Kevin Hill casts this show marvelously and elicits brilliant performances from the entire cast while musical director Jacob Priddy brings out incredible vocals from them, as their voices soar off the charts. What sets this show about from others is the group choreography, with the drag performers doing their routines with everyone in perfect unison. Lola and the group steal many a scene with their breathtaking dance moves (in kinky boots) throughout the show. The singing, dancing and acting in this show is spectacular and wins the cast a thunderous and prolonged standing ovation.
Owner and producer Bill Hanney spares no expense to bring this fabulous and lush show to his audience. The impressive two-story interchangeable set is by Kyle Dixon, while the gorgeous multitude of colorful costumes are by Gregg Barnes. Kevin brings out the pathos and comedy necessary to pull this show off. The two leads stop this show with their phenomenal talent. Tall, dark and handsome, Luke Hamilton portrays Charlie Price, who finds himself in a bind as he’s saddled with his father’s shoe factory, his fiancée’s insistence on leaving town and his having to lay off workers. Luke’s warmth and personality shine through and his chemistry with the whole cast and especially with Lola is dynamic. Add his magnificent tenor voice to the mix with his standout number “Soul of a Man” ripping your heart out in the second act when he realizes the error of his ways. We first hear Luke in “Charlie’s Soliloquy” where he mulls over whether he should run the factory or if he’s a fraud, in “Step One” when he takes control of the situation to do the impossible and be the one to reinvent the heel (This song is reminiscent of “What You Own” from “Rent”) and later in the show with his heartfelt apology when Charlie says to forget the boots when he admits the error of his ways to Lola over the phone. Some of his upbeat numbers are “Everybody Says Yeah” which closes Act 1 with a bang with the Angels doing high kicks and splits and the Milan factory numbers “Raise You Up” and “Just Be” with Lola and the Angels and the whole ensemble. These numbers are breathtaking. I last reviewed Luke as Bob Gaudio in “Jersey Boys” at NSMT in 2019.
The other dynamite lead is Julian Malone who is magnificent as Lola (whose birth name is Simon). Both men had complicated relationships with their fathers and this is the common bond that brings them together. They first meet when Lola is being mugged and she accidently knocks Charlie out. Julian is luminous as Lola and heartfelt as Simon but also displays toughness when challenged to a boxing match by the bully in the factory. Julian and Luke have great chemistry together as the two leads. Lola and the gals many numbers include “Sex Is in the Heel” where they do a kick line after Lola puts Don, the bully in his place by sitting on his lap and scaring him with her deep voice, “Lola’s World”, where the audience first meets Lola and the Angels, “What a Woman Wants” with the women in the factory where once again Don is put in his place by the gals and “In this Corner” where Lola and Don have a boxing match with surprising results on to finally get along with each other. However, his two best numbers that make you shed many a tear, are “Not My Father’s Son” in Act 1 where his father wanted him to be strong and fight but Lola preferred leather and lace instead, and the other in Act 2 is “Hold Me in Your Heart” where Lola performs in drag at a nursing home while asking for love and acceptance from them and his father. There is very poignant moment between Charlie and Lola with their fathers at the end of the show. Julian knocks your socks off in this role. Brava!
Audrey Belle Adams as Lauren, a factory worker who eventually becomes Charlie’s girlfriend, stops the show with her hilarious song, “The History of the Wrong Guys” while she has shoes on her hands. It has to been seen to be believed. Audrey’s belting voice is also fabulous. The hard-working Angels who kick higher than humanly possible are expertly played by Tyler Dema, Ricky Loftus, Jaye Jackson, Pablo Pernia, Wyatt Slone and Stephen Vaught.
Other cast members also do marvelous work in this show. James Fairchild is Don, the bully who finally comes through in the end with his assistance to Charlie and the other workers. His character scares the crap out of you before the show in his warning to turn off all cell phones and is very scary in this role, too. Kevin B. McGlynn is marvelous as George, the factory foreman. Etta Grover plays the bitchy, spoiled Nicola who wants Charlie to turn the factory into condos so they can be wealthy with no regard anyone else’s feelings. Kat Gold as Trish and Corey Sheys as Pat do a great job as fellow workers who encourage Charlie to make the kinky boots to save the business. Kat Moser plays the sarcastic Milan stage manager near the end of the show. Kudos to one and all on doing a phenomenal job on this crowd pleasing musical. So, for a magnificent high energy spectacular musical that will not only entertain you but teach you how to treat people in a dignified manner, be sure to catch “Kinky Boots” at Theatre by the Sea. Run do not walk to the box office before this must see show of the summer season is entirely sold out. Their website is www.theatrebythesea.com Next season is their 90th Anniversary Season. This is my 50th year of attending shows at Theatre by the Sea and this review is my 2000th review.
KINKY BOOTS (17 August to 11 September)
Theatre by the Sea, 364 Cards Pond Road, Matunuck, RI
1(401)782-8587
