Kinky Boots is a fun, heart-warming musical. With great music, acting and costumes, this show is a real crowd-pleaser. Here’s my Kinky Boots the Musical theatre review.
Overview of Kinky Boots the Musical
Kinky Boots the Musical is a high-energy musical based on a true story. My Kinky Boots the Musical theatre review will give a short synopsis, so will contain some plot spoilers, but you can still enjoy the show even if you know the plot.
Kinky Boots the Musical follows Charlie Price, a young man who inherits his family’s struggling shoe factory in Northampton. Unsure how to save the business, Charlie unexpectedly crosses paths with Lola, a flamboyant drag performer with a flair for fashion. Lola describes how the drag queen community needs sturdy, glamorous heels. The two form an unlikely partnership to create a new line of high-heeled boots for drag queens. It’s a bold move, but Charlie hopes that this niche market might save the show factory.
As the team at Price & Son wrestles with change, tensions arise, especially from a factory worker called Don. Don is a traditionalist who clashes with Lola’s unapologetic identity. Through humorous and emotional moments, Charlie learns that embracing diversity and innovation isn’t just good business – it’s good for the soul. And Charlie even finds new love with one of the factory workers as well. Meanwhile, Lola challenges not just footwear expectations, but the factory workers’ notions of gender, acceptance, and self-expression.
The musical ends with a dazzling fashion show in Milan, where Lola’s creations take the spotlight. The whole team of show factory workers and drag queens come together, united.
What I liked about Kinky Boots the Musical
I really enjoyed Kinky Boots the Musical. There were lots of things about this musical I really liked. I was smiling throughout so much of the show.
Music and songs
I really enjoyed the music in Kinky Boots the Musical. There were lots of songs that I really enjoy listening to outside of the musical. The music, with some great lively songs with great dances on stage. But there are also some softer songs as well, with more emotion heart-warming moments. I think the songs fit well in Kinky Boots the Musical, and make it a really enjoyable show.
The song ‘History of Wrong Guys’ is definitely a highlight in the show – it’s so funny and well-performed. I really enjoyed Lauren’s whole performance throughout the show, and I felt like my eyes were drawn to her when she was on stage.
Cast and costumes
I thought the cast in Kinky Boots the Musical was excellent. In the production I saw, I wasn’t quite sure about Lola at first. At first, I wasn’t sure if the actor was playing Lola in quite the right way – maybe not quite camp enough. But as the show progressed, I really warmed to Lola. Their song ‘Not my father’s son’ was a beautiful moment in the show, and showed how Lola was an amazing singer. And Lola’s costumes were amazing as well – I loved the colourful red costumes.
Charlie was also a great character. The show really portrays his inner turmoil well, as he battles with his thoughts about whether he should continue his father’s shoe factory, and save the workers there. Highlight’s of Charlie’s performance for me were the song ‘This is step one’. And the songs at the end of both Act 1 and Act 2 showed how he was an excellent dancer as well.
Dealing with issues and the heart-warming ending
One of my favourite things about Kinky Boots the Musical is the way this show deals with themes and issues. Throughout the show, there’s a strong theme of prejudice against the LGBTQ+ community, and how Lola and also the other characters fight to overcome it. This show feels very current, with its portrayal of Lola and their fight to be who they want to be.
Lola faces prejudice and discrimination when they start working at the show factory, especially from a worker called Don. Don even challenges Lola to a boxing match, to prove his idea of masculinity. But Lola lets him win the boxing match – not out of weakness, but to preserve his dignity. Lola then flips the challenge: she asks him to accept someone for who they truly are. Charlie also turns against Lola as well, when the stress of the Milan fashion show is getting to him, and he shouts at Lola with some really hurtful language.
However, in the final scene of the show, at the Milan fashion show, we see Don dressed up and wearing the iconic red high-heeled boots. And Charlie is there as well, also wearing the red boots, ready to welcome Lola. It’s a really heart-warming ending to see all of the factory workers, together with Lola’s drag queen friends, all wearing the iconic high-heeled red boots and dancing together. The final song brought happy tears to my eyes, as all the characters united, and accepted each other for who they were.
What I wasn’t so sure about
There wasn’t much about Kinky Boots the Musical that I wasn’t so sure about. At first, I wasn’t sure Lola’s character was played quite right, but throughout the show I really warmed to them. Overall, I thought it was an enjoyable and heart-warming show. It might not make my top 10 musicals of all time, but there’s nothing specific that I didn’t like.
Would I recommend Kinky Boots the Musical
My Kinky Boots the Musical theatre review is positive, so I would definitely recommend going to see this show. The good set and costumes, as well as the great music and great characters, make this an enjoyable show. Kinky Boots the Musical is a heart-warming celebration of friendship, authenticity, and finding your stride in unexpected places. It’s a story that kicks stereotypes to the curb and reminds audiences that changing the world starts with being yourself.
Hope you enjoyed my Kinky Boots the Musical theatre review! Check out my other theatre reviews for more shows in the West End, across the UK and the world.
