Reviewed by Louise Edwards
Glitz and glamour hits Nottingham this week as Kinky Boots comes to town and what a dazzling treat is in store! Based on real life events Kinky Boots is the winner of every Best Musical award available and certainly lives up to expectations!
Charlie Price (played by the talented Joel Harper-Jackson) is reluctantly left in charge of the family dwindling Northampton based business, a shoe factory producing quality men’s shoes, when his father passes away. Times are hard as the market is flooded with cheaper lesser quality imports and Charlie is faced with the dilemma of closing the factory and making some of his closest friends redundant.
His childhood sweetheart Nicola (played by Paula Lane) is busy making plans – for their wedding and their future – and has set her sights on the pair moving to the bright lights of London.
Torn between the two worlds Charlie’s life changes when he crosses paths with Lola (played by the incredible Kayi Ushe), a stunningly beautiful drag queen with a brilliant voice and eye-catching fashion sense. When she complains about the shoddy quality of boots, made for women, that don’t stand up to being worn by cross dressers, a seed is sown in his mind.
Charlie and Lola slowly realise they have far more in far common than either would have thought as they work together to save the business and fill a niche in the market. Juggling factory politics and financial strains in their quest to produce a fashion show for Milan.
A posse of drag queens join Lola as her Angels and I honestly thought they were all glamour ladies at first such is their beauty! With their teeny tiny outfits and staggering heels they strut their stuff with panache!
There are goosebumps a plenty in this ultimate feel good musical with music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, who won Big Original Score.
Themes running through the musical are powerful and ones that will resonate with everyone. Prejudice, acceptance of others, not judging people by their appearance and the power of parental influence enrich the musical adding depth and gravitas.
A riotous explosion of sequins and stilettos that is promised to delight all!
Rating: 5/5
Tickets cost from £19.50 to £57.50 (booking fees may apply).
Kinky Boots is at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham from 28 May to 8 June 2019, for more information or to book tickets visit www.trch.co.uk or call the box office on 0115 989 5555.
Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Theatre Square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND
