BWW Reviews: KINKY BOOTS at The Smith Center

First A Personal Perspective From A Reviewer:

As a native New Yorker who was fortunate enough to go to Broadway shows since the age of five, I can now wholeheartedly and unreservedly say that Las Vegas is, indeed, the "Entertainment Capital of the World." And the reason for that is, in three simple words, "The Smith Center. "

The Smith Center is home to a range of performances and programs. The Las Vegas Philharmonic and Nevada Ballet Theatre have made it their home. The Center boasts a full Education and Outreach Department for schoolchildren of all ages. Among their offerings are Early Learning Through The Arts, Nevada High School Musical Theater Awards and participation in Disney Musicals in the Schools. There are theaters and performance spaces for a full range of entertainment.

Since it opened in 2012, The Smith Center has drawn the attention of the national theater community, too. I was once interviewing Hal Prince and mentioned the Smith Center. His reply was, "Yes, Steve told me about it. He said it's beautiful."(" Steve" in that case, was Stephen Sondheim, who was their performing Stephen Sondheim, A Life in the Theater: An Evening of Music and Conversation in July 2012.

The Smith Center is a magnificent building and its offerings are also magnificent.

Now, The Review of Kinky Boots

The first stop made by the national touring company of Kinky Boots is Las Vegas, here through September 14. This is the Tony-winning musical by Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper based on the 2005 British Film of the same name that, in turn, is based on a true story. The movie starred Joel Edgerton and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The story is set in provincial Nothampton, England and focuses on the shoe factory, Price & Sons.

As the show opens, the shoe business is bad and Charlie Price (Steven Booth) - the "Son" in Price and Son - faced with the unexpected, sudden death of his father, finds he has inherited the factory. He thus has to either shutter it or find a way to again make it profitable.

Enter Lola (Kyle Taylor Parker), a drag queen who suggests Charlie begin to manufacture sexy, "kinky" boots for drag queens. Overcoming his own inhibitions and those of many of his workers, Charlie acquiesces and, of course, ultimately, is a success.

Kinky Boots, however, is more than a drag show with great footwear. It is a parable about acceptance, love and father/son relationships, among other topics.

The cast is terrific, absolutely first-rate.

Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell gives us a fast-paced, delightful show on the road as he did on Broadway. David Rockwell's sets and Gregg Barnes' costumes are first-rate and always visually interesting.

In short, Kinky Boots is a terrific, rousing show - something to cheer about. See it before it leaves. And don't forget to check out the remainder of the Broadway Las Vegas series at www.http://www.thesmithcenter.com.

Kinky Boots is at the Smith Center through September 14. Tickets range in price from $24 to $139 plus fees that are based on the ticket price. Visit http://ev10.evenue.net/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/SEGetEventList?groupCode=KINKY&linkID=tsc&shopperContext=&caller=&appCode=&utm_source=Marquee&utm_medium=homepage&utm_campaign=Kinky%20Boots

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