Kinky Boots
Until Sunday, April 16
South Hill Park
01344 484123
Kinky Boots the musical premiered in the US in 2012 and in the West End in 2015.
It was welcomed with much anticipation at South Hill Park this week, playing to mostly full houses.
Based on a true story, the show tells of a struggling shoe factory which achieves success when the owner, Charlie Price, collaborates with drag queen Lola to manufacture a range of flamboyant high-heeled boots.
The stirring opening number sets the scene with the principals and chorus singing about how a shoe is The Most Beautiful Thing.
Here, we first meet a young Lola who is a boy called Simon trying to please his father while nursing a desire for vibrant footwear, and a young Charlie determined to learn the shoe trade from his father.
A quick, effective jump forwards more than a decade and we see Charlie setting his sights on a high-flying career in the city while Lola now heads a troupe of talented drag queens called the Angels.
The pair meet and Lola persuades Charlie to start making sexy footwear – Lola’s Kinky Boots.
Rather than a curtain, the stage is open to the audience who have time to take in the split-level set and all the details that depict a shoe factory.
Throughout the show the set ingeniously morphs into a stage for the Angels, the inside of a pub and even a toilet.
The sound and music levels were perfectly balanced so every word of dialogue and songs could be heard.
A huge amount of talent was on display, from the strong leads to the dynamic chorus which kept the show sparkling.
Undoubtedly, the stars of the show were the Angels, led by the sassy Kyan Heywood as Lola, who gave an incredibly strong performance which had the audience on their feet.
Another triumph for the South Hill Park Community Theatre.
JUDITH CREIGHTON
