Kinky Boots at Bradford Alhambra.
KINKY BOOTS struts its stuff at Bradford Alhambra. Words by CATHERINE SIMES.
Give us half a dozen beautiful drag queens and a couple of show tunes and we’ll give you a dancing, clapping standing ovation.
Kinky Boots, the award winning musical set in a shoe factory, arrived at Bradford’s beautiful Alhambra Theatre on Tuesday night to rapturous applause and a standing ovation. With music by ’80s legend Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots you had me at the first OTT group number.
Loosely based on a true story, of Charlie Price’s inheritance of a failing shoe factory turned around and upside down by the inspired decision to change production of classic men’s shoes to boots for drag queens, Kinky Boots is a musical for our times. With the arrival of drag queen Lola and the Angels to the stage, the night began in earnest. Northerners are definitely here for a camp panto.
The messages were absolutely shoe-horned into the story of Lola/Simon and Charlie and their struggles with what it means to be a man, escaping small town life for something better, but then questioning where do you most feel at home? Does the shoe fit? Does it need to? But whenever it felt like it might sink into saccharine, it was almost instantly tempered with a great line, some well-placed sarcasm or a belter of a tune.
To a largely female audience, Lola asked what do women want? If Lola is right and women like drag, she flirted shamelessly with cast and audience alike and the warmth of the reception seemed to prove the point. Turns out Bradford women are very much up for half a dozen high kicking drag queens and a few show tunes. In Brexit Britain, a bit of sparkle and sass is the antidote we need. Strictly Come Dancing meets Bradford lasses kicking asses – maybe we just like strong women?
Kayi Ushe as Lola/Simon has perfected a vulnerable versatility and produced a power ballad performance of which Whitney Houston would be proud. Lola’s foil was boy-band, boy-next-door Joel Harper-Jackson’s Charlie whose journey was played with puppyish enthusiasm and delight. Hebden Bridge lass Paula Lane provided Charlie’s inspiration and down to earth love interest Lauren. I have to say her delivery of the songs in a northern accent was preferable to some of the American accents which seemed to creep in at times from some of the other leads. But then I’m biased.
The group numbers were irresistible and the ensemble were everything singing, dancing factory workers should be. With songs such as Sex is in the Heel, The Most Beautiful Thing in the World (shoes) and with lines like “hit him in his insecurities” during a rather beautiful boxing scene you can’t fail to have a smile on your face throughout the show.
And for me the prefect happy ending finale – a fashion show in Milan, some not bad Italian and a cast so obviously thoroughly enjoying themselves which was pretty infectious on a rainy Tuesday night. Bradford gives its praise begrudgingly. If you can work your magic on Bradfordians Kinky Boots you’re doing something right.
Be who you want to be kids.
Kinky Boots continues at Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre until Saturday 26 October 2019.