Kinky Boots: Exhilarating Fun at TBTS

WAKEFIELD, RI — Theatre By the Sea closes out their summer season with the musical “Kinky Boots”, an exhilarating and heartfelt show with high energy and lots of sequins.

Charlie Price (Dean Cestari, filling in for star Luke Hamilton at the performance I saw) inherits his dad’s failing shoe factory in a small English village.

Charlie really has no enthusiasm or vision for the business, until he meets a London drag queen named Lola (Julian Malone), who proposes Charlie manufacture shiny red boots for drag queens. The pair form a special bond and much of the drama in the story emerges from their evolving relationship.

After seeing Lola’s sketches, Charlie invites her to work for him as a designer.

In the process, Charlie learns about accepting others for who they are. He also finds his own path in life.

Cestari is fine as the earnest and unsure Charlie, but Malone steals the show as Lola, a larger than life character whose self-confidence and witty comebacks mask much pain.

Malone shines on the touching ballads “Not My Father’s Son” and “Hold Me In Your Heart.”

Audrey Belle Adams’ Lauren brought down the house with a show-stopping “The History of Wrong Guys.”

The finale’s triumphant “Raise You Up” was upbeat and infectious in its joy.

There were terrific supporting performances by Kevin B. McGlynn as George, one of the shoe factory’s veteran employees, and James Fairchild as Don, who learns some lessons in masculinity from Lola. Fairchild has one of the most audience-pleasing moments in the show (you’ll know it when it happens).

“Kinky Boots” was adapted by Harvey Feirstein (“Torch Song Trilogy”) from a 2005 motion picture. Cyndi Lauper wrote the music and lyrics. The show won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2013.

Director/choreographer Kevin P. Hill provides a lot of razzle-dazzle visually and brings out the sometimes bawdy humor in the story.

Kyle Dixon’s (“Cinderella”) glorious set designs plunge us into the world of the shoe factory and a glitzy fashion runway in Milan.

The orchestra, conducted by Jacob Priddy, was in fine form throughout.

At a time when the LGBTQ community is being demonized by conservatives, a show like “Kinky Boots” reminds us about the importance of celebrating the unique qualities which exist in all of us.

Kinky Boots runs through Sept. 11. The theatre is located at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield. Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Saturday from 11:00 am – 5:00 pm,  Sundays 12 noon – 5pm and performance days until curtain, online 24-hours-a-day at www.theatrebythesea.com and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling (401) 782-TKTS (8587).