Show Review: Kinky Boots’ National Tour
By Barb Aguiar.
Those who persevered through the two stoppages in Thursday night’s performance of Kinky Boots’ National Tour by Troika Entertainment at Prospera Place were eventually rewarded with a good show.
Sound problems plagued the initial 30 minutes or so of the production.
One couldn’t help feeling sorry for the cast and crew as some audience members near the back began to shout they couldn’t hear, drowning out what little the rest of the crowd could understand.
When the show started for the third time, the sound was improved although muddy at times, but the cast carried on unrattled, delivering some great music and dancing with a message about acceptance.
Kinky Boots, a Broadway hit musical based on a true story, won six 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Cyndi Lauper, known for such 80s hits as Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time picked up the Tony for Best Original Score.
The story follows Charlie Price, who was born into a family of longtime shoemakers in Northampton, England. Charlie doesn’t share his father’s passion for shoes and leaves Price and Sons to make his own way in London.
When his father suddenly dies, Charlie returns to the factory and discovers it on the brink of financial ruin.
After meeting drag queen Lola, Charlie comes up with the idea of providing a product to serve an underserved niche market – men who wear women’s boots.
Kenneth Mosley who played Lola splashed onto stage like a sequined bomb of energy performing Lola’s World
Throughout Kinky Boots, whether Lola is trying to fit in or stand out, Mosley lights up the stage as the flamboyant drag queen with definite ideas about fashion that came through in numbers such as Sex is in the Heel.
Lauper’s score included many easily likeable tunes, including Everybody Say Yeah, which wrapped up the first act with cast members dancing on the shoe factory’s conveyer belt for a great effect.
Karis Gallant who played Lauren the love interest had the crowd laughing during her number the History of Wrong Guys.
Kinky Boots saved the best for last, with great laughs as Charlie played by Connor Allston tries to model the kinky boots himself in Milan before Lola and her angels in drag come to the rescue on the runway in their splashy outfits and boots.
Raise You Up/Just Be is a colourful, feel-good finale that had the audience clapping along.
It not only neatly stitched up all the loose ends of the story, but also emphasized acceptance, helping others and love, valuable reminders in today’s climate.
Featured photo: The National Tour of Kinky Boots. Photo credit: Matthew Murphy.
