"Kinky Boots"
Nottingham Theatre Royal.
"Kinky Boots", if you've never seen either the film or the musical, takes you from a Northampton factory floor to the catwalks of Milan.
Based on the 2005 film "Kinky Boots", written by Geoff Deane, who used to be in the band Modern Romance - remember them? - and Tim Firth of Calendar Girls fame, and inspired by true events. The musical tells the story of Charlie Price, who having inherited Price & Son, a shoe factory from his father, forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen Lola to produce a line of high-heeled boots and save the business. In the process, Charlie and Lola discover that they are not so different after all.
Charlie is struggling to live up to his father’s expectations and continue the family business of Price & Son. With the factory’s future hanging in the balance, help arrives in the unlikely but spectacular form of Lola – a fabulous performer in need of some sturdy new stilettos.
Johannes Radebe, who everyone will know from being a professional dancer on "Strictly", plays Lola. It's not often that a performer gets such a rapturous applause even before they have spoken a word, but Nottingham showed just how beloved this man is. The over confident showman as Lola and the vulnerable revelations of Simon were beautifully done and when Johannes sings, the soul in his voice oozes out. Who'd have guessed that behind those ballroom and Latin skills that he would have possessed that voice? The fragility in "Not My Father's Son" is as tender as any Luther Vandross's ballads, as was "Hold Me In Your Heart". Then there are the disco belters like "Land Of Lola" and "Sex Is In The Heel". Johannes possesses a very distinctive voice and in his delivery there are echoes of Whitney Houston with the drama, plus a hint of Dame Shirley Bassey with the way he makes his lip quiver. And all the way through you could tell that this role was perfect form Johannes because he had that wicked glint in his eyes throughout the show.
Dan Partridge plays Charlie Price, and again a man who can really perform a song, but that's no real surprise as Dan has been starring in musical theatre productions for the last decade. Musicals like "Grease", which is where I last saw Dan playing Danny Zuko in 2021, "Cats", "Hairspray" and "Mamma Mia" and has also appeared in "Doctors" and "Casualty" on TV. It is not until Act Two with the amazing "Soul Of A Man" that we get to hear the full passion and power Dan has in his voice.
Courtney Bowman plays factory girl Lauren. Lauren has a bit of a crush on Charlie but of course Charlie is engaged to Nicola, but as in all the best musicals, true love really does conquer all. It comes as no surprise at all to discover what a belter of a voice Courtney has, and with range she absolutely soared, reaching the chandelier at the top of the Theatre Royal auditorium. Her "The History Of Wrong Guys" also shows the fun that you can have with a song.
Joe Caffrey plays Don, the bigoted worker who Lola manages to change, opinion wise. Brilliantly characterised but wait until the catwalk section near the end to find out what a voice Joe has; it really sends the shivers down your back when he hits that high note.
Kara Lily Hayworth is Nicola, Charlie's selfish fiancée, Scott Paige as George, the factory foreman, Simon Senior, Lola's father, is played by Newtion Matthews, Kathryn Barnes is Pat, Lucy Williamson as Trish, Jonathan Dryden Taylor as Mr Priceand Liam Doyle is Harry, a work colleague of Charlie's from way back complete the main cast.
Lola's Angels are, dare I say it, gorgeous and funny and are great dancers with great flexibility. They are played by Kofi Dennis, Ru Fisher, Liam McEvoy, Ben Middleton and Ashley-Jordan Packer.
Young Lola is played by three different young actors and I think the one on stage tonight was Jessie Manzi.
Young Charlie is also played by a trio of young actors, and again tonight I think he was played by Lonan Johnson.
Both young actors were excellent in the choreography stakes, looking very natural alongside the adult dancers.
The music and lyrics are both by Cyndi Lauper, who recently celebrated her 72nd Birthday. I have been a fan of her music since the early Eighties, and there is so much more to Cyndi Lauper music wise, than her hit records portray. The score covers several genres form disco stompers to gospel tinges, rock and big ballads. listen carefully and you can hear nods to some of the arrangements of her chart work.
Musical Director is Sioned Evans. The music ranges from big and bolshy to superbly sublime.
Directed by Nikolai Foster of The Curve in Leicester.
Incredible choreography by Leah Hill.
The Set and Costume Designer is Robert Jones. The set is different to the other designs that I have seen. Gone are the piles and piles of back wall shoe boxes, and a design of an actual factory floor, complete with office space, canteen and toilet space, which then transforms into the Milan catwalk via a boxing arena.
The costumes, as only to be expected where drag is involved are all pretty spectacular, showy and extremely glamourous, especially Lola's.
The wigs, hair and make up, by Campbell Young Associates are equally spectacular and showy.
Sound Designer is by Adam Fisher and Lighting Designer is Ben Cracknell. When both of these production specialist fields compliment the other, you end up with a visual and audio special, and that is what we had tonight. Both areas adding to the excitement that the performers on stage create.
This show is sheer entertainment from start to end. The sort of musical that will have you feeling all warm and squidgy inside, but also has a great message to send out about accepting yourself for who you are, and accepting others for the way they are. So, if you're feeling a bit down this week, go and see this show as it will definitely raise you up.
“Kinky Boots” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 5 July.
