KINKY BOOTS THE MUSICAL, EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
★★★★
‘Radebe’s Lola is a posturing, preening peacock that takes time to warm to…’
‘The most wonderful thing in the world is a shoe’, according to shoe factory owner Mr Price, sadly, this is not the most wonderful production of Kinky Boots to sashay out on tour. That said, with a wickedly funny book by Harvey Fierstein and a host of toe-tapping songs by Cyndi Lauper, it’s hard not to succumb to the homely charm of this tale of self discovery.
The self discovery is that of Charlie Price, reluctant heir to his family’s failing Northampton shoe factory. When the death of his father pulls him back from London where he has settled with aspirational, driven fiancee Nicola, Charlie must rise to the occasion and save the business and jobs of all his workers. It’s a seemingly impossible challenge until he meets drag queen, Lola, and together they decide to ‘make footwear for men who like to dress as women’.
Talking of Lola, Strictly Come Dancing favourite Johannes Radebe steps into her trademark shiny red boots in this new touring production from Leicester’s Made At Curve. Radebe may be delighting capacity audiences in the role, but like most stunt casting, it comes at a price. His Lola can certainly walk the walk and talk the talk, elsewhere he’s found wanting. This Lola is a posturing, preening peacock that takes time to warm to; his moves may draw whoops and screams of delight from his fans, however, his acting and singing prove ropey – and he’s not the only one.
Dan Partridge captures the turmoil of Charlie’s emotional journey along with an endearing vulnerability but again, on occasion seems to lack the range required to do Lauper’s score justice; although he and Radebe make a good fist of I’m Not My Father’s Son, one of the strongest numbers in the show.
Thankfully, Courtney Bowman, has no such issues and shines, bringing many layers and nice comedy to her portrayal of Lauren. She also boasts the best vocals in the company by far. Good supporting turns from Kara Lily Hayworth as Nicola, Scott Paige as George and Joe Caffrey as Don.
That unevenness in the cast is reflected in other areas of this new fast and furious production, which flies through the more emotional moments of storytelling (old Mr Price is dead and buried within no time of his son learning of his death) to keep the sassy song and dance numbers coming as it rushes towards a show-saving finale that lifts the soul.
Before that, however, director Nikolai Foster and choreographer Leah Hill appear to be engaged in a battle for stage space. Direction and choreography come together but not smoothly. Like the colliding worlds of Lola and Charlie, it’s clunky and not without problems. Too often, the direction requires Partridge to disappear mid-song as he travels from the factory floor to his office via stairs that, bizarrely, take him off-stage before bringing him back into view. Fake prop pints of lager that never spill, regardless of the angle at which they are held, is another distraction as is a descending shoe rack that on numerous occasions masks the action.
The Kinky Boots company | Image Johan Persson
By Act Two, Radebe, now channelling Eartha Kitt for the number What a Woman Wants, brings his full game to the role and, via a mischievously unexpected moment (no spoilers) he’s on fire by the finale, in which Lola’s Kinky Boots receive their Milan showcase – a beautifully realised scene in which Robert Jones’ fabulous set design excels.
It plays a huge part in what shapes the glorious finale set piece, Raise You Up/Just Be, which finds the entire company on stage, most of them in the titular boots, for what is a perfectly executed, life-affirming celebration of individuality, acceptance and togetherness.
Runs at Edinburgh Playhouse until 22 February. Tickets here. Tour dates, venue and tickets here.
I found Johannes to be tender and natural and an amazing lola and we’ve seen Todrick Hall on Broadway in the role. Not being an actor helped Johannes enormously, as he is not prone to over act like some and he can certainly move beautifully and sing very well. I liked the staging too and we had a fantastic, uplifting evening and all of our party, of all ages, loved it. I can agree that the pints that didn’t spill were a bit obvious from row 3 where we sat and although we got to see the whole stage I can see how the shoe rack when lowered could block some views if you’re up high. But seriously…this is not a 3 star production at all. Many of the cast are really good performers and the whole show is a treat. I’ve recommended it to lots of people.
Glad you enjoyed it, Julie.
It must have been an off day, we saw this at the Curve and thoroughly enjoyed it.now we have not watched dancing so had no idea who he was but he played the part well but it was the rest of the cast that stood out for us.
You do get the chance to see it please go I sm sure you will enjoy it.
Thanks, Brian.
One of my favourite films and tbh I was worried when Johannes was going to be Lola that his presence may be more of a distraction. There were many in the audience who were obviously there just for him.
I enjoyed the show but it did become more about showcasing the dancing than the actual plot. The sound was average at best with words often indistinguishable in some parts of the songs.
I felt other Lolas have been more masculine than Johannes and that fitted with the needing a new type of heel for the shoe whereas tbh There was not much difference before and after Price &Sons got involved.His acting and singing was decent enough.
I couldn’t quite understand the benefit of the moving shoe rack, it didn’t add to the set or plot but was just a distraction.
I loved George and Lauren in equal parts. It was a good show, I was not disappointed even though I had been apprehensive about it,.
Was it better for the reworking, the jury is out on that one but then again I loved it before
Thanks for your observations, Anne.