Inspired by true events, Kinky Boots made its transition from the silver screen in 2005 to stage.
The story takes you from the Northampton shoe factory to the fabulous Milan catwalk. Charlie Price (Killian Donnelly) steps into his father's shoes to continue the family business while the factory hits some hard times. An unexpected event brings Lola (Matt Henry) and Charlie together. Lola needs some new stilettos and Charlie needs to save the factory....
Harvey Fierstein, Cyndi Lauper and Jerry Mitchell are the brilliant minds behind this highly energetic, spectacle. Lola and her glamorous angels show a parallel to Lauper's 'Girl's Just Wanna Have Fun' party atmosphere. There are still moments where the party stops but Henry still absolutely steals the spotlight especially during Lola's song 'Hold Me in Your Heart'.
There are many reasons why this show is making 'Everybody Say Yeah', leading with the show's wonderful cast. Killian Donnelly is fantastic at completely reinventing Charlie, the rather simple and lackluster factory owner. His vocals are quite sensational as he takes on songs like 'Step One' and 'Soul Of A Man'.
If you liked Priscilla Queen of the Desert then you'll love Matt Henry's, Lola. Henry goes all out on Lola's extravagance and steals the stage whenever he is on stage. In fact, Henry seems more comfortable as Lola, 'six inches off the ground' than he does as Simon. It seems that Lauper saved the most memorable songs for Lola and just as well since Henry does each and every one total justice.
Amy Lennox plays the slightly quirky but loveable Lauren, a factory worker who develops a crush on her boss. She's not your average girl-next-door as her solo 'The History of Wrong Guys' proves. In fact, she performs the song so brilliantly with such perfect comic timing that this performance alone could win some awards.
The choreography definitely deserves a mention. The angels especially, who manage to dance in heels that I probably couldn't even stand up in. The whole cast makes the show feel like one big party.
My only criticism would be that 'Raise You Up' feels at time like it should be far more energetic than it actually is. It takes time for the energy to build which is a shame for such a wonderful final song.
Kinky Boots leaves the audience in high spirits and with two very important lessons in Raise You Up/Just Be. 'Just Be' tells the audience that you can be whatever or whoever you choose to be and macho man Don sings, 'Change the world when you change your mind'.
Check out the trailer!
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