Monday 26 October 2015

Kinky Boots - the West End Musical


About the show:

Kinky Boots is a Broadway musical with music and lyrics by Tony, Emmy and Grammy-
winner Cyndi Lauper and a book by Tony-winner Harvey Fierstein. Based on the 2005 film Kinky Boots by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, which was inspired by true events, the musical tells the story of Charlie Price, who inherits a shoe factory from his father. To save the business, Charlie forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen, Lola. With Lola's help, Charlie develops a plan to produce a line of high-heeled boots. In the process, he and Lola discover that they are not so different after all.
Following the show's conception in 2006, the creative team was assembled by 2010. The original production of Kinky Bootspremiered at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago in October 2012, with both direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell, and starring Stark Sands and Billy Porter as Charlie and Lola, respectively. It made its Broadway debut at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 4, 2013 following previews that began on March 3, 2013. The musical began its US tour in 2014.
Having been less well received by theatre critics and at the box office, initially, than another 2013 Broadway production, Matilda the MusicalKinky Boots entered the 2013 awards season as an underdog. However, less than a month after opening, Kinky Boots surpassed this rival with audiences in weekly box office gross and later enjoyed a post-Tony boost in advance sales. The production earned a season-high 13 nominations and 6 Tony wins, including Best Musical and Best Score for Lauper in her first outing as a Broadway songwriter, making her the first woman to win alone in that category. The musical's cast album premiered at number one on the Billboard Cast Albums Chart and number fifty-one on the Billboard 200 chart.

My opinion: 

London without a musical doesn't work for me. Last time I was here I went to see both shows by myself, this time I had Paris and Rachel join me. We went for kinky boots and not Book of Mormon in the end, which for me was definitely the right decision.

I watched the trailer only and Already really liked the music. On stage it was even more amazing! Awesome songs, great singing, fab dancing and some pretty damn amazing actors on stage. The show is sparkly, fun and so very gripping.

It's about Charlie, who has to take over has dad's shoe factory. If he doesn't have a glorious idea, he has to shut the factory and fire everyone. These people depend on their job though. Then he meets Lola and gets the idea of designing a fancy boot for men (drag queens) to wear. lola helps him and they build up a friendship. There are a lot of lessons to be learned in the story and the drama is definitely there. It is all beautifully made into a storyline with charm, music, dance and just so much enegry, passionand power.

It's pretty impressive how the men danceo these high heels and the way they move. Matt Henry playing Lola did a fantastic job, the role is perfect for him. He is a great singer, dancer and actor and he did a great job switching the emotions. Also the guy playing Charlie (Killian Donnelly) was great. I really liked Amy Lennox, who played Lauren, she was funny, entertaining and just great to follow around. That lady is really talented. There were also two boys included, they didn't have that much to do, but they were just adorable and it's amazing how talented they are.

Kinky Boots is so much fun. The music, the choreography and just the whole atmosphere take you right into the story and I barley couldn't sit still, it made my wanna join them on stage.

Fabulous, sparkly!!!


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