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Regional Reviews: San Francisco A Wild and Wonderful Kinky Boots Also see Richard's reviews of Peter and the Starcatcher and The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged)
The musical has been adapted from the 2005 British film with captivating results. It is an old-fashioned upbeat musical and the touring version is utterly irresistible. Everything about this musical is great: the score, book, direction, choreography, wigs, makeup, costumes, lighting and sets, and talent are perfect. Kinky Boots is based on true events and tells the story of a shoe factory heir and a drag queen who work together to create a line of kinky boots for men. Charlie Price has inherited a shoe factory from his father in Midland England. Unfortunately, the company is near bankrupt and Charlie feels a responsibility to the employees. He meets drag performer Lola, who complains in passing about the poor quality of the shoes she is obliged to wear. She says "I need a shoe that can stand up to me." Charlie goes back to factory and puts Lola, known when not in drag as Simon, in charge of production. Flamboyant designs start to come off the assembly line and the number at the end of the first act is tremendous, with a superb, agile dance of drag queens and factory workers hopping on and off a moving conveyor belt to "Everybody Say Yeah." Harvey Fierstein's book celebrates diversity and preaches a conventional and conversant message about respecting other people's variances. One of the most real moments is when Lola, out of drag, sings a hymn to Charlie entitled "I'm Not My Father's Son," as he exposes the pain of discovering that we all might not fit other people's perceptions of who we should be. Cyndi Lauper's score is filled with likable pop tunes and intense ballads that get straight to the heart of the musical. Her nimble-fingered shifts of melody and rhythm create an enticing rapidity. There is one vibrant number after another under Adam Souza's music direction. Jerry Mitchell's direction is savvy and high-spirited, and he also provides the choreography. He knows how to keep things fluid and fun in the dance movements. The scene in which dancers are on the moving conveyer belts is brilliant. The entire cast is strong, but attention must be paid to Kyle Taylor Parker as Lola/Simon. This is the role that won Billy Porter a Tony. Parker brilliantly showcases a string of Lauper's great songs with his full-voiced and explosive vocal cords. Steven Booth as Charlie Price has the belting voice to match the more rocking numbers, and both he and Kyle Taylor Parker convey a genuine sense of warmth between them. He also displays great moves in Mitchell's dances. Lindsay Nicole Chambers is excellent as the wannabe romantic partner of Charlie; however, it is an underwritten part in which she is obliged to stand around exuding eagerness most of the time. She gets a chance to show off her vocal chops on "The History of Wrong Guys." David Rockwell has designed an impressive factory set that opens up cleverly as the musical moves among locations. There is also a dazzling array of costumes by Gregg Barnes that are a vision all their own. Kinky Boots plays through December 28th, 2014, at the Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market Street, San Francisco. For tickets call 888-746-1799 or visit www.shnsf.com. For more information on the tour, visit kinkybootsthemusical.com.
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