Warning. If you go see the new musical Kinky Boots on Broadway you may leave with a slightly sore jaw. That’s what grinning for two plus hours can do to your puss. The show with a score from Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Feirstein is based on a true story of a failing English shoe factory that starts making boots and shoes for drag queens. (And yes there was a movie made a few years ago with the same name). Thigh high boots + drag queens x director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell = lots of scantily clad men dancing a storm set to a pulsing disco beat. In other words sheer theatrical bliss!
It’s wonderful to see Billy Porter who has been kicking around Broadway for years get the plum lead role as Simon/Lola and become the star he is supposed to be. And you’ll gay gasp just a little when you see Annaleigh Ashford as the girl who pines for the straight boy. The second she opens her mouth you know she’s going to be a star.
Kinky Boots is a hoot and leaves you happy leaving the theatre. What more could you ask for?
– NAUGHTY BUT NICE NICKI GOSTIN