Kinky Boots

This show is a personal favourite of mine, having seen it several times professionally and a superb SW amateur premiere last November elsewhere in Devon.

The main reason we do shows is to entertain the public as well as having a lot of fun along the way while rehearsing the shows and to, hopefully, learn new techniques as well. The response of the audience at the final curtain for this show told the society all they needed to know about their achievement. A standing ovation and loud cheering clearly indicated that the society had entertained its punters and that those punters will hopefully return in the future.

This isn’t a show that has broad appeal as it isn’t one you can bring your young children to , although there isn’t anything in the content that would offend anyone and despite its inclusion of drag queens within the cast, the story is fairly old style and it is actually a very traditional musical in its construction.

The principal themes here are acceptance of others, acceptance of yourself, and the need for society to change its viewpoint on those it perceives to be different, and also with that acceptance, to then meet challenges head on and produce change.

It was brilliant that the society managed to persuade the man who inspired the story to be present all week promoting his book. That was an added attraction that garnered great interest.

The cast is dominated by the roles of Lola and Charlie. Here, the role of Lola was stand out with superb vocals and a lovely performance that dominated the evening. Charlie was not to be outdone and proved a great match. Any society who cannot cast performers of rare ability in these roles will find themselves on the slippery slope. Luckily this production was in capable hands with these roles. This show has a slow low-key start, and things only really get going with the first entrance of Lola and this production followed that pattern.

I was also very  entertained by Lauren, who has one of the best numbers in the show “History of Wrong Guys”.

Other roles that stood out were Nicola (Charlies rather strident and irritating fiancé) and Dom, who ultimately accepts Charlie and Lola. Harry also produced some very nice vocals earlier in the show.

The ensemble does not have a great deal to do in this show and the trick is to avoid looking as though you are coming on just for a musical number, but to look engaged and look like factory workers. This wasn’t always achieved.

As with a lot of productions of this show, the angels (Lola’s drag girls) were cast as a mixture. In this case it was 3 girls and 3 guys. The guys looked stunning and could easily pass for girls. I am not sure this group looked like drag queens though. They looked great but looked more like a great team of female dancers and I am not sure that should have been the aim.

The excellent band , along with the usual adept musical direction for this society, ensured the musical numbers were well rendered.

The set (Scenic) and lighting were first rate. I did miss the conveyor belt (not sure of the set didn’t have this or it simply couldn’t be accommodated) . Sound was fine from where I was sitting in the balcony – cannot comment on the stalls. I know this venue (like a lot of venues) can have variable sound quality depending on which part of the auditorium you are sitting in.

Congratulations to the main production team of director, choreographer and MD, for once again upholding the audience expectations here. The finale response told you all you needed to know.

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