Some shows are huge news and when one which is the winner of every major best musical award, including the 2016 Olivier, arrives in Wolverhampton, you know you're in for a good night!
Set in a Northampton shoe factory, Kinky Boots comes with an astonishing pedigree. With songs by Grammy and Tony winning pop icon, Cyndi Lauper and book by Broadway legend, Harvey Fierstein, the piece celebrates a joyous story which takes you from the factory floor to the glamorous catwalks of Milan.
Based on the 2005 British film of the same name, and inspired by true events, the show tells the story of Charlie Price who, having inherited a shoe factory from his father, forms an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen to produce a line of high-heeled boots to save the business. And In the process, Charlie and Lola discover that they are not so different after all.
Kinky Boots is a show which celebrates a culturally diverse and forward thinking way of life and speaks to so many people on so many levels. Whatever part of the story you identify with, it's safe to say there's a representation of that on stage which makes this more than just a feel good musical. This is a piece which talks with, and connects to, the audience and that's warmly received by a diverse Wolverhampton crowd.
Brought to the city by Bilston Operatic Company, there's nothing subtle about this show at all. Every time I've seen it, the creative as been almost as much a part of the performance as the people on stage so it was pleasing to see that a professional set had been bought in. In fact, the staging is stunning, the lighting sublime and the costumes as glam as you can get. Kinky Boots is full on, drag queen sass from start to finish and personifies empowerment beautifully.
But it's the quality of the cast that makes or breaks a show and the performers on stage gave it their all this evening. Jaii Andrew took on the dress and boots of Lola and dominated proceedings from the off. Following in the footsteps of performers including Billy Porter and Matt Henry, Jaii's 'Lola' had a markedly different approach which was refreshing to see. This wasn't a carbon copy of what came before and, with a singing voice that commanded your attention and a vulnerability that broke through bravado, Jaii was clearly born to pull on those big red boots.
Alongside Jaii, Alec White take on Charlie with a funny, slick performance which felt like he'd been in the role for years. Let's face it - of our two leads, Lola is clearly the attention grabber, but White does a fantastic job of keeping Charlie in the spotlight rather than be consumed by the boots and sequins.
This is my third time seeing Kinky Boots but it certainly won't be my last. Every time I sit in the audience, whether it be a local group or a professional tour, it reignites my love of the story - and the team from Bilston Operatic did just that tonight. And I'll stress the word 'team' because it's that family aesthetic for groups like this that make productions possible.
Nine years after its premiere, Kinky Boots still as relevant, infectious, dazzling, funny and brilliant as day one and this production confirms that.
Kinky Boots runs at Wolverhampton Grand until Saturday 7th May. For more information, or to get your tickets, head online to grandtheatre.co.uk.
