Photos courtesy of Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group
There are many ways that “Kinky Boots,” as a musical, could have fallen into the trap of camp and caricature.
This the story of a young man who inherits his father’s failing shoe company in Northampton and teams up with a drag queen and cabaret performer to take his company into a new direction by crafting high-heeled boots for men.
The musical could hit all the standard notes of a comedy involving a drag queen in a shoe factory but four-time Tony winning playwright Harvey Fierstein doesn’t go for the easy laughs. Instead, he crafts a beautiful story about what it means to be a man with the aid of gorgeous original songs by Tony winner Cyndi Lauper.
That’s what director Bobby Garcia captures in this incredible staging of “Kinky Boots.” The focus is on the two lead characters, Charlie and Lola, and their journey into becoming the men they want to become. The play is funny and heartwarming in equal measure and without sacrificing the fun and theatricality we’ve come to expect from a musical.
The lynchpin of the whole production is Nyoy Volante’s nuanced and unabashed portrayal of Lola, the drag queen and cabaret performer that teaches everyone around him what being a man is all about.
Never does Volante ever play Lola as a stereotype. This is a lived-in performance and every move and dialogue tells us the whole being of Lola. Volante portrays her as a person of the world, classy, mature, and courageous.
From his opening number in “Land of Lola” to his show-stopping ballad “Hold Me In Your Heart,” Volante embodies a diva with a strong heart and a lot to offer the world. Dancing in high heels and exuding sexy confidence, Volante steals the whole show.
Unfortunately, Laurence Mossman, who plays the other lead, Charlie, doesn’t quite come close to Volante’s powerful stage presence and disappears from the play.
This isn’t a case of scene-stealing because Yanah Laurel manages to land her solos and keep her presence felt despite a short role. Laurel plays Lauren, one of the workers in Charlie’s shoe factory who is falling in love with him, and she plays the provincial girl in love with so much charm that you see her clearly. Her solo, “The History of Wrong Guys,” is charming and quirky without being over-the-top.
What makes “Kinky Boots” such a lovely experience is that the musical does not rely on the easy jokes and really delves deep into their characters and into this world. Lola is funny and captivating, not because she’s a drag queen, but because she’s written that way and performed wonderfully by Volante.
The play takes to heart Charlie’s own struggles living up to his father’s reputation and getting lost in the process. It’s emotional without being tired or obvious about its theme. It tells the story of Charlie and Lola, which happens to have LGBT issues and father issues intertwined in their stories. It didn’t feel like there was an agenda.
But despite delving into these themes, “Kinky Boots” is not afraid to have fun, too. Great songs and great dance numbers pepper the musical and the added bonus of seeing Lola’s angels — a group of drag queens dancing and doing stunts in heels and dresses — is a joy to watch because they infuse each number with so much energy and talent.
“Kinky Boots” is an enjoyable night at the theater and it’s surprising and unexpected. I came, really, just to hear Cyndi Lauper’s original songs but I came out with so much more, most especially seeing Nyoy Volante on stage for the first time. Now that I know what he’s capable of, I’m going to watch every show he’s in.
