Kinky Boots – Kevin P. Hill, director and choreographer, Dan Rodriguez, musical director, Kyle Dixon, scenic designer, Gregg Barnes, original costume design, Kelly Baker, costume coordinator/additional costume design, Jose Santiago, lighting designer, Adam Bates, sound designer, Josh Marquette, original wig design, Rachel Padua-Shufelt, additional hair and wig design. At North Shore Music Theatre, October 25 – November 6.
by Linda Chin
With pop icon Cyndi Lauper’s triumphant “Raise You Up/Just Be” as its grand finale, NSMT’s Kinky Boots ends on a high note – and not just because everyone on stage is singing and dancing in glittery 4 to 5-inch heels. Rather, the characters we have come to adore have stories with happy endings, and inspire the audience to celebrate themselves and make their own.
Based on the 2005 film (which was inspired by true events), Kinky Boots follows the story of Charlie Price, a young, straight-laced man who finds himself in tough straits when he unexpectedly inherits a struggling shoe factory that has been in his family – and the Northampton, England community – for generations. The market for high quality men’s dress shoes has dried up and Charlie needs to quickly come up with a viable plan to save the loyal long-term employees from being let go and the factory from going under. When Charlie accidentally runs into London drag queen Lola and learns that the high-heeled boots they wear are “high-priced but not high-quality,” a light bulb goes off. Charlie recalls his staff member Lauren’s brilliant suggestion (Bosses out there who need great new ideas – try asking your employees) that Price & Sons find a new, underserved niche market. Instead of making a “range of footwear for men” the factory will pivot and make “footwear for a range of men.” And who better to partner with to “pivot” the business than a drag queen in stilettos?
In NSMT’s Kinky Boots, Luke Hamilton plays Charlie Price, Julian Malone plays Lola/Simon and Audrey Belle Adams plays Lauren, fresh off the show’s run at Theatre By The Sea (NSMT’s sister theatre) this summer. In Charlie, Lola and Lauren, Harvey Fierstein (book) and Cyndi Lauper (music and lyrics) have created characters that propel the story forward, are vastly different from each other (and us) in some ways, but are real and relatable and worth rooting for. In “The History of Wrong Guys,” a love-struck Lauren reveals her crush on the unavailable Charlie, and becomes the show’s EveryPerson for anyone who’s ever made bad dating choices or had their heart broken. Hamilton’s “The Soul of a Man,” and Malone’s “Hold Me in Your Heart” reveal the burden of parental expectations that children carry and the sense of closure we hope for before our aging parents are no longer with us. These numbers elicited extended audience applause for their strong performances and emotional honesty.
The stirring production numbers “Sex is in the Heel” (led by Lola and the Angels, Lola’s backup troupe of drag dancers) explaining how the heel is the most important part, and “Everybody Say Yeah” (led by Charlie, Simon and the factory workers) celebrating the first pair of kinky boots to be finished, are showstoppers. Every member of the 24 person cast plays a pivotal role in delivering not only a great performance but the positive message of being yourself and accepting others. A big YEAH to every performer on stage, in the pit, and backstage for bringing this heartwarming production of Kinky Boots to life. For tickets and information, go to: https://www.nsmt.org/
