‘The most beautiful thing in the world is a shoe,’ they sing. Thus begins Kinky Boots – The Musical, which has been travelling the UK since January and arrived at Oxford’s New Theatre this week.
‘from the moment he takes the stage, no one is in any doubt as to who this musical belongs to – Newtion Matthews’ gorgeous Lola is riveting’
Sung by a factory owner and his son Charlie in a rather grey, conservative and struggling Northampton shoe-factory, suddenly a detonator is pressed and Kinky Boots – The Musical explodes into a riot of sparkling, draggy, campness as Lola and his/her gang of fellow drag-queens, strut, twirl, gyrate and mince all over the stage in this uplifting, moving and thought-provoking show.
But then Dad dies, leaving Charlie the ailing family business. Plain, straight Charlie luckily encounters cross-dressing Lola and understands that together they could save the business, and more importantly the jobs of the long serving employees, by halting production of boring old traditional shoes that aren’t selling, and instead exploit a niche market by producing shiny, bright red, plastic, thigh-high boots. Simples!
‘it opens up the floor to all sorts of modern-day CONUNDRUMs ‘
Except of course everything is far from simple, as time and again, traditional attitudes and values lock horns with more progressive, liberal and open-minded views, opening up the floor to all sorts of modern-day conundrums such as being yourself, sticking to your guns, turning the other cheek, going against societal norms, following family expectations and questioning your long-held beliefs.
Charlie and Lola’s journey throughout Kinky Boots – The Musical explores all these issues before concluding that the pair have more in common than they think and that strength lies in unity.
‘Charlie and Lola have more in common than they think and that strength lies in unity’
Throw in the extravagant stage sets that elegantly morph from one scene to another, and an immensely talented cast, and the die is cast.
Take a bow Joe Caffrey as traditional, ‘proper-man’ Don, Courtney Bowman as funny and feisty love-interest Lauren, and Scott Page as the hilarious (and closet drag-queen) George.
But from the moment he takes the stage, no one is in any doubt as to who this musical belongs to – Newtion Matthews’ gorgeous Lola is riveting. The voice, the looks, the moves, the toughness and the tenderness. What a treat he gave us!
Edward Bliss
Kinky Boots is at New Theatre Oxford until Saturday July 26 BOOK HERE
