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Kinky Boots The Musical

King’s Theatre, Glasgow

Four stars

 

Cyndi Lauper fans are having a bonanza just now. Following the 1980s pop queen’s own live extravaganza at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow last weekend, this week sees the return of Lauper’s smash hit musical of heels, deals and broken high ideals. 

 

With a book by the mighty Harvey Fierstein, turning the true story of a traditional Northampton shoe factory that survives the post industrial downturn by making extravagant footwear for drag queens wasn’t the obvious choice for a Broadway musical. 

 

Following the 2005 Brit-flick that first picked up on the story following a 1999 TV documentary, the show’s original 2012 production went on to become a multiple award winner before going on to wow audiences closer to its source material. 

 

This new production originated at Leicester’s Curve Theatre prior to its current tour co-produced with the ROYO organisation. While it retains the necessary pizazz in spades to make it just as big a hit, Nikolai Foster’s production has a slight fringe feel about it that works wonders. 

 

Crucial to this is the savvy casting of Strictly star Johannes Radebe as Lola, the fearless drag star who inadvertently becomes the saviour of the shoe factory inherited by Charlie from his late father. From the moment Radebe struts onstage, a vision in shimmering scarlet with an entourage of angels in tow, he pretty much owns everything that follows. Charlie, meanwhile, is meant to go to London with his high-flyer girlfriend Nicola, but old loyalties to the factory floor prove too big a pull. 

 

This becomes the spark for a big-hearted tale about community, acceptance, and young manhood in all its shapes, colours and shoe sizes. As Lola squares up to shop floor prejudice, for both him and Dan Partridge’s Charlie, other influences loom large. The boys they once were and the fathers who made them into very different kinds of men are always with them. Throw in a bid to turn the factory into luxury flats and a budding romance between Charlie and Courtney Bowman’s factory girl Lauren, and all of everyday life is here.

 

Fierstein’s wisecracking script is delivered with an attitude that translates surprisingly well from New York to Northampton. Lauper’s songbook that goes with it is brought to life by Foster’s all singing, all dancing ensemble in a radio and video friendly floorshow that goes with it. This sees them step out in style throughout choreographer Leah Hill’s routines on Robert Jones’ set, which moves from production line to Milan catwalk in a show where boots are definitely for dancing.


The Herald, February 13th 2025

 

ends

 

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