Mayflower Theatre Southampton – until 14 September 2019
Reviewed by Jo Gordon
5*****
With an unusual setting of a Northampton shoe factory, many would wonder how Kinky Boots has become the huge hit it is today and if they chose not to go and see why, they are missing out on an absolute treat! On the death of his father, Charlie ( Joel Harper-Jackson) inherits the struggling family business but has aspirations to succeed in the big smoke that is London alongside his fiancé Nicola (Helen Ternent). Who wishes for bigger and better things that she believes Northampton can offer them. On returning to the factory Charlie realises its not just about him, there’s also a factory full of staff who are relying on him to save their jobs. Enter Lola (Kayi Ushe) and her Angels, a Drag Queen Diva and her glorious cross dressing ensemble in need of the highest stiletto heels that can withstand the life of a Drag Queen. A friendship is formed and they set to work developing the perfect, reddest boot much to the disdain of some of the workers, who have an issue with Lola.
There are some wonderful moments as we follow the production of the boots, from big choreography numbers involving the whole cast and treadmills, to solo pieces like Lauren’s (Paula Lane) quirky realisation that she fancies Charlie and Lola’s beautiful, moving visit to entertain the local old peoples home .
Joel’s gentle, bumbling Charlie balances well with Kayi’s loud, confident Lola and each compliments the other wonderfully. The whole cast are brilliant at bringing each character to life and as someone who can just about manage to walk in socks on a flat floor I’m in awe of the fact they manage to fling themselves around in those heels in the Milan scene…. impressive!
With the shows lyrics written by the famous Cyndi Lauper you are in for a treat, there are some enormous numbers like Sex is in the Heel, What a Woman Wants and Raise You Up/Just Be that get the audience clapping along and eventually raising up to their feet at the end.
This glittered, thigh high extravaganza is a reminder that acceptance of yourself and others should always be the norm.