Prepare for a breath of fresh air, lots of laughs and a few tears shed in secret while you witness the sparkliest show on the West End, Kinky Boots, now showing at the Adelphi Theatre. The musical stage adaptation is based on a little-known 2005 Brit flick, and has already won six Tony Awards (including the prestigious “Best Musical”).
Set in a hard-times British factory town, Kinky Boots features the affable English gentleman Charlie (played by David Hunter) who is forced to take over the family shoe factory. He is in for a surprise and a life-altering journey when a chance encounter meets him with Lola – the fabulous London drag queen, played by Simon-Anthony Rhoden.
Rhoden’s vocals are perfectly complemented by the supporting troupe of cross-dressing ‘Angels’’ performance and the unlikely relationship between Charlie and Lola which explodes in the electrifying ‘The World of Lola’, a song celebrating kinks, quirks and being true to one’s self.
Charlie steps outside his father’s shadow and discovers his true passion (marked by David Hunter’s unforgettable solo ‘Soul of a Man’) – making high quality high heel shoes for drag queens. As the two worlds collide, and tension, drama and sparks ensue, the production reaches its high point when the shoe folk meets the show folk, and Lola and her Angels begin giving northern English factory men lessons in morals and aesthetics.
There’s a pinch of comedy and romance too, following factory worker Lauren as she struggles to resist her crush on Charlie, her song ‘The history of wrong guys‘ is just hilarious. Power ballads follow high octane ensembles but the message remains clear throughout the entire performance. Kinky Boots is a musical about accepting yourself as well as others and overcoming adversity, delivered through witty exchanges, risqué humour and characters that are a true delight to watch.
A delightful musical with a twist, Kinky Boots is guaranteed to leave you in a good mood. Watch the trailer: