Kinky fun with a kool message at Theatre By The Sea

Theatre Review by Don Fowler
Posted 8/24/22

“Accept someone for who they are!”

That’s the message sent to the audience in this highly entertaining, six-time Tony Award winning musical, with songs by Cyndi Lauper and book …

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Kinky fun with a kool message at Theatre By The Sea

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“Accept someone for who they are!”

That’s the message sent to the audience in this highly entertaining, six-time Tony Award winning musical, with songs by Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein.

“Kinky Boots” is like no other musical to come out of Broadway. Smart and snazzy, filled with good songs and great choreography, and an uplifting story that will have you cheering for the unique characters who work at a Northampton, England, shoe factory and their new friends, a group of entertainers and their leader, Lola.

This is our third “Kinky Boots,” and the best portrayal of Lola we have seen.

Julian Malone has captured the heart and soul of Lola, the singer/dancer who designs the kinky boots that save the failing men’s shoe factory.

Charlie Price (Luke Hamilton) reluctantly returns to run the local show factory after his father dies.

Charlie bumps into Lola (literally) one evening, and the rest is history. The friendship that develops between these two divergent characters sets the tone for the changing of attitudes, acceptances and stereotypes.

James Fairchild’s role of Don, the macho factory worker is a key element in the tenet, “You change the world when you change your mind.” Fairchild played the role in the national tour and has a lock on it.

It is a major credit to Director/Choreographer Kevin P. Hill for his ability to take this sprawling production and fit it into the small TBTS stage.

One major dance scene had to be reimagined, resulting in a clever routine.

In one scene, the factory workers join the angels in a choreographed moment that fills every inch of the performing space; it has the audience on its feet.

One subtle observation stuck with me as I thought about what I would say about this production, especially after owner and producer Bill Hanney’s memo to the press, asking us to “take some time to think about how we describe the performers.”

That’s a tough one.

Lola and the Angels are men performing as women. The factory workers come in a variety of ages, race, gender and body size.

Charlie’s true love is a full-bodied woman.

Is this important to the message  of “accepting yourself and you’ll accept others too?”

You bet it is!

“Kinky Boots” couldn’t do a better job of sending the message. Hopefully, everyone in the audience got it.

“Be yourself. Everybody else is taken,” Lola tells Charlie as everyone in the musical grows a bit, leaving behind a message and example of how to accept yourself and each other.

It’s a powerful message in a powerful package that you don’t want to miss, even if you have seen it before.

“Kinky Boots” runs through Sept. 11 atTheatre By The Sea in Matunuck. Call 782-8587 for reservations.

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