Show: Kinky Boots
Format: Musical
Genre: Comedy
Date: March 27 2019
Location: Empire Theatre, Liverpool
A wildly-popular show that has finally hit Liverpool‘s Empire Theatre, Kinky Boots tells a story that mixes old-school business mentalities with modern-culture awareness. This results in a show that is timeless and highly entertaining.
Kinky Boots
Synopsis Of Kinky Boots
Kinky Boots is primarily focused on the tale of Charlie Price (Joel Harper-Jackson), who is unexpectedly and unwillingly thrust into the role of managing his father’s shoe factory Price & Son in Northampton after his dad suddenly passes away. This upsets the apple cart of a planned marriage and business development with his partner Nicola (Helen Ternent) in London, but it’s an opportunity he essentially has to take up. Only problem is, the company is really struggling, to the point where it is only a matter of weeks, if not days, that the factory is set to close with the workforce set to be laid off.
In the meantime, we meet Lola (Kayi Ushe), a local drag queen, and a very talented and charismatic one at that! Lola leads her team of performers on a nightly basis, and he meets Charlie by accident, with him trying to save her from an attack outside a pub. Lola brings him to her club, and after a backstage confab, she divulges that she could do with having new shoes created. Charlie has discussed the possibility of creating “niche” footwear with his employee Lauren (Paula Lane), and with this idea in mind, they not only have a task to complete, but a direction to temporarily keep the business going.
Extravagance
Making an extravagant entrance, Lola is unimpressed by the initial design, emphasising the need to make them longer, sparkling and red to emit sexual passion. In the meantime, she raises the ire of some when it’s revealed that Lola is actually a regular (yet sexually open-minded) man named Simon, and his attempts to fit in with the team by dressing “normally” don’t help much. It leads to Charlie offering Simon/Lola a job in the company while the project finishes, and Simon accepts that.
But there is trouble ahead on several fronts. Nicola reveals that Charlie’s father drew up plans to sell the company’s building and tear it down. The plan was for a new development to replace the building that would boost Charlie and Nicola’s financial fortunes. However, it would finish off the organisation and force all of the staff to lose their jobs.
Romance
Meanwhile, Lauren develops romantic feelings for Charlie. Furthermore, Charlie and Lola like the prototype for the Kinky Boots. But a series of arguments leads the two to go their separate ways, with Charlie also upsetting his staff. Oh, and Nicola is not happy with him either. It’s a multi-layer dilemma. But the Kinky Boots design process continues ahead of a planned fashion show in Milan. And everybody has to somehow find a way of making this succeed in such a manner that everybody can see their own personal circumstances benefit.
Analysis Of Kinky Boots
Joel Harper-Jackson does a good job as Charlie, especially with his singing. And the characters of Paula Lane and Demitri Lampra (Don) are entertaining. But the undisputed star of the show is Kayi Ushe, who absolutely shines here. Whether it’s the over-the-top performance at her local club in the form of Lola, the raw emotion and outstanding singing talents demonstrated when he is simply Simon, or the extravagance and comedy displayed when Kayi is a hybrid of the two, his performance is something to behold, and it was definitely the highlight of the show for me.
Elsewhere, as you would expect, the costumes (and of course the Kinky Boots themselves) are very nice on the eye, with a whole host of colours that emphasised how big and glamorous this production was. The comedy was pretty consistent across the board, as the mood only dipped during the intentionally-dramatic plot developments.
Other Thoughts
The scenery was effective, nicely portraying the run-down old-fashioned British shoe factory. There is also a plethora of lights and pizzazz during the final catwalk scene in Milan. And there are a fair few songs to enjoy. These include The Most Beautiful Thing In The World and Sex Is In The Heel. Not forgetting In This Corner to Raise You Up/Just Be. However, Not My Father’s Son by both Charlie and Lola is simply incredible. And Lola does an excellent job with Hold Me In Your Heart.
Summary Of Kinky Boots
On the whole, Kinky Boots lives up to its lofty hype. It’s a memorable and exciting, all-singing and all-dancing musical that will put a smile on the face of anybody watching. It is running until Saturday April 6. And I strongly suggest that you check the show out while it plays to the Liverpool audience. Simply put, Kinky Boots is a must-see.
