BWW Reviews: Likable KINKY BOOTS Inaugurates Gammage Auditorium's 50th Anniversary Season

Like its composer, Kinky Boots is so unusual. Meticulously derivitative, yet passingly original, KINKY BOOTS profits by assembling key moments from other musicals. THE FULL MONTY and PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT top the list, but CABARET and LA CAGE are in there, too. But give KINKY BOOTS, the musical, creative credit for understanding what devices work in those shows, recognizing a high count of access to those same devices in Kinky Boots, the film, and then artfully re-creating and re-arranging them into likable theatre. Derivative and pastiche are separated only by time. A lavish star turn context, pleasant Cyndi Lauper score, and costumes by Gregg Barnes make KINKY BOOTS a pleasant evening despite a predictable story and well-exercised formula.

The info button synopsis of Kinky Boots goes, "Shoe factory heir Charlie (Steven Booth) meets drag queen Lola (Kyle Taylor Parker) and they try to save Charlie's business by cornering the niche market of female impersonator footwear." And though even the most novice consumer of pop culture is always ten minutes ahead of the action, the scenes charm enough to fill the gaps between the more engaging musical numbers. The source material's best gift of golden musical theatre devices is unwrapped in Lola's first number, "Land of Lola". Like Sally Bowles in CABARET, a flamboyant and destructively appealing second protaganist is also a skilled stage performer. And like Sally's "Don't Tell Mama", "Land of Lola" introduces the audience's favorite character "show-within-a-show" style. Without taxed suspension of disbelief, these numbers bring new momentum to the show by granting a break from magic accompaniment by an invisible band. Capitalization on moments like these prove Harvey Fierstein a deft and veteran book writer,

The eyeroll to smile ratio ends 1 to 1. For every success like "Land of Lola", there are missteps like including back-to-back 11:00 and 11:10 power ballads for the two leads, The engaging delight of "Sex is in the Heel" is washed out by "The Most Beautiful Thing in the World", an opening number that's an exhibition of the kind of musical theatre chided by "South Park" and other masters of parady.

If KINKY BOOTS finds itself a staple of non-professional theatre like so many of the shows it emulates, the task will be finding Lolas like the stunning Mr. Parker and Broadway's Billy Porter. This National Tour sports a competant cast, realizing, of course, that competant means staggeringly talented. Lola's ensemble, "the angels" take greatest advantage of their opportunities to stand out. Lindsay Nicole Chambers balances well Lauren's comedy and sincerity. Mr. Booth as Charlie gets a charming performance from what is ultimately a pedestrian role.

KINKY BOOTS celebrates Gammage Auditorium's 50th Anniversary season with wavering flair, but its crowd-pleasing nature opens this year's schedule with amusement and light satisfaction.