Kinky Boots, Theatre Royal Plymouth, to 20 July and touring. 5*****, Cormac Richards
PLYMOUTH
THEATRE ROYAL PLYMOUTH – 20 JULY 2019 & TOUR
KINKY BOOTS
5*****
RUNNING TIME 2 HOURS 30 MINUTES – 1 interval
Theatre Royal Plymouth Box Office – 01752 267222
REVIEW – CORMAC RICHARDS – 9 JULY 2019
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With the very greatest of respect to Northampton, as a setting for a successful musical, it does seem to be an unlikely choice. However, when your original story is set there for a reason, why change the location? The story of a collapsing shoe manufacturer reborn by refocussing their work on a new market was first seen on a BBC TV documentary which inspired the film ‘Kinky Boots’ and thence the musical.
Having seen the show in London several years ago – where it enjoyed a very successful run – there was every hope that the tour would enchant me again. It did. Blessed with a book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics from Cyndi Lauper it is a musical of such fun, joy and depth.
There are many shows which live and die by getting the casting right and in the case of this show, if you don’t have an actor in the role of Lola who can portray sass and wit and irresistible charm by the bucket load, then you don’t have a show. The Plymouth audience are so lucky to be seeing Kayi Ushe; every turn of the head, every point of the toe, every word that comes from his mouth – all combine to provide a memorably wonderful performance of great skill. He is tremendous. As the reluctant factory owner, Charlie, who takes on Lola to design the said boots, Joel Harper-Jackson plays awkwardness and innocence perfectly. When the two combine for the song ‘Not My Father’s Son’ there is barely a dry eye in the house – one of the most moving songs in musical theatre. The actors work very well together.
Ushe has a stunning voice; powerful and laced with wit and a winking eye. He sings the anthemic number ‘Hold Me in Your Heart’ with great passion and when you realise who he is singing it to, the emotions go into overdrive.
There will be a number of members of the audience who would have done a double-take when Lola’s backing dancers, The Angels, appeared. Visually arresting and wonderfully costumed, they provide a huge dose of joyful naughtiness to the proceedings.
Elsewhere in the cast there is excellent work from Adam Price as George, the foreman – a wonderful comic role; Helen Ternent as Nicola and Paula Lane as slightly dotty Lauren. Excellent support also from Demitri Lampra as the bigoted Don.
A wonderful set by David Rockwell is so brilliantly realised and there is an untold number of props in the show – the use of a conveyor belt for a dance routine is inspired and fantastic to watch. Costume design by Gregg Barnes runs the full gamut from beige slacks to PVC basques and beyond. The boots of the title are something else and the Angels’ outfits for the finale are breaktaking.
Musically this is full of the catchy and the unexpected. Moving melodies sitting side by side with the raucous and the uplifting. Under the direction of Patrick Hurley the production is blessed with an excellent orchestra who are well served by the sound design whose balance is perfect.
‘Kinky Boots’ is an understated piece of musical theatre – it doesn’t pretend to be anything that it is not – having said that it is a show of great depth – incidentally dealing with issues of gender, sexuality and acceptance in a very non-preachy way. Oh, and it is very, very funny. This production serves the material so well.
A gloriously, gorgeous, moving and joyful show.
CREDITS
ANDY WATKINS – MR PRICE
JOEL HARPER-JACKSON – CHARLIE PRICE
HELEN TERNENT – NICOLA
ADAM PRICE – GEORGE
DEMITRI LAMPRA – DON
PAULA LANE – LAUREN
LIZZIE BEA – PAT
JOSHUA ST CLAIR – HARRY
KAYI USHE – LOLA
CONNOR COLLINS – ANGEL
JOHN J DEMPSEY – ANGEL
DAMON GOULD – ANGEL
JOSHUA LOVELL – ANGEL
CHILESHE MONDELLE – ANGEL
TOYAN THOMAS-BROWNE – ANGEL
NIKI EVANS – TRISH
DANIEL CONWAY – RICHARD BAILEY
FRED SMILEY – SIMON SR
SCARLET GABRIEL – MILAN STAGE MANAGER
CHARLIE ALLEN, SHAUN DALTON, PORTIA HARRY, ALFIE PARKER, JOSHUA ST CLAIR – ENSEMBLE
BOOK – HARVEY FIERSTEIN
MUSIC & LYRICS – CYNDI LAUPER
DIRECTOR & CHOREOGRAPHER – JERRY MITCHELL
DESIGN – DAVID ROCKWELL
COSTUMES – GREGG BARNES
LIGHTING DESIGN – KENNETH POSNER
SOUND DESIGN – JOHN SHIVERS
MUSICAL DIRECTOR – PATRICK HURLEY