Kinky Boots

This week’s show visit delight was Kinky Boots. For those of you, such as myself, not familiar with the movie or the show, inspired by a true story this musical tells the tale of Price and Son’s shoe making factory. With the factory facing closure can Charlie Price diversify and find a way of saving the factory, and its workers? Enter Lola and her Angels. Sexy, feisty and dressed in drag. Can they help to save Price and Sons, in turn challenging Charlie and his employees to consider how they treat and perceive others.

Straight away the two-level set transported us straight to the Price and Son factory, opening the show Old Mr. Price (Graeme Smith) sings to a less than impressed young Charlie (Gregor Paterson) with ‘The Most Beautiful Thing in the World’, while, a young Simon [Lola] (Darach Dailly) is trying on a pair of red high heels. An opening number that set the scene for an excellent evening’s entertainment, 

Leading the cast is Scott McRuvie as Charlie Price and Hugh Johnstone as Lola, who are well deserving of their roles, not only showing off their vocals but bringing the emotions through their ballads such as ‘Hold Me in Your Heart’, ‘Not My Father’s Son’ and ‘Soul of a Man’.

Scott captured both vulnerability and strength in his portrayal and Hugh Johnstone illuminated the stage as Lola, confident in his heels, while ably demonstrating another layer as Simon, his duet with Scott ‘Not My Father’s Son’ an emotional highlight.

Charlie’s frustrated fiancée Nicola was well played by Sophia Mercer, whilst Sydney Mulligan delivered a larger-than-life factory girl Lauren, in love with the boss. I enjoyed the portrayals of the hyper-masculine Don well played by Raymond Uphill-Wood, Faithful Factory Manager, Graham Mitchell, Pat and Trish characterized respectively by Sian Johnstone and Jem Clark and Harry played by Nathan Forsyth.

The ensemble numbers however are where this production shows its true colours. The cast gave it everything all the time they were on stage, whether they were in the limelight or not. When people come together to make a show happen, that team becomes a family. With DMS that much was obvious and every chorus number was delivered with loads of energy and heart. ’Sex is in the Heel’ ‘Everybody Say Yeah’ , ‘Raise You Up/Just Be’ particularly memorable.

The Angels, played by Neil Hutton, Charlie Clark, Drew Knox, Ross Lesslie, Zoe Skivington, Louise Marshall, Rebecca Smith and Cassie Greig certainly raised the enthusiasm of the audience. Much credit to them all, I was particularly impressed with the Angels strutting ably, owning the choreography in heels they are most certainly not used to. 

Naturally no visit to Kinky Boots can be complete without talking about the boots themselves. The iconic red boots of course and the costumes supplied by Utopia Costumes were just stunning, bright and brash and very much part of the visual and feel of the show.

Well-staged and choreographed by Ross Lesslie and musically directed by Ian Strachan. Superb lighting compliments to Morven and Phil Cooney and a huge well done to the stage crew negotiating the set that transported us straight to the Price and Son factory to a catwalk in Milan, 

As the entire cast came onto the stage for one final number, all impressive and upright in knee high boots the audience was up on their feet, dancing along. This production featured a fabulous cast, brilliant staging and costuming, and so much energy. 

Thank you for inviting me, this was a night to remember. Well Done DMS

 

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