The Arts Club’s Kinky Boots delivers a perfect pair for Pride Month. The Tony Award winning musical brings a summer of pride and joy to the the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage until July 31st.
Based on the 2005 film of the same name written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, with a book by Harvey Fierstein and music & lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, Kinky Boots is as much a feel good party as an emotional journey of discovery.
Inspired by real events, the musical centers on Price & Son shoe factory in Northumberland England. The factory is in dire financial straits when Mr. Price Sr. dies and passes the concern on to his son, Charlie (played by Sayer Roberts), the 5th generation to head the factory. Never feeling a passion for shoes, Charlie’s heart isn’t in it to fight for the factory, until he realizes the heart of the factory is in its people. By happenstance Charlie meets Lola, a London drag queen, and together they set on a journey to save the factory, and along the way discover more about each other, themselves, and the chosen-family of people who stand by them.
Under the guidance of Director, Barbara Tomasic, the stellar cast, and Pam Johnson’s set design, makes use of every inch of the Stanley’s stage to take us from the grime of the Northumberland factory, to the glitz of a London cabaret, and the glam of Milan. Stewart Adam McKensy as Lola, cuts a commanding presence in high heals, a big wig, bold costumes (by Barbara Clayden) and a powerful voice, but as Simon he is as restrained and reserved as his boy-drag clothes make him feel. Cyndi Lauper’s brilliant storytelling music and lyrics give McKensy and Robers much to chew on, like Lola’s cabaret theme “Land of Lola”, and the instrospective “Charlie’s Soliloquy”, to the delicate and personal duet “Not My Father’s Son”, and a Whitney Houston-esque moment for Lola on “Hold Me in Your Heart”. The rest of the company shines too, especially Kelli Ogmundson as Lauren who channels the comedic performance of a Girls Just Wanna Have Fun-era Cyndi Lauper as she powers through “The History of Wrong Guys”. While Kinky Boots is full of heart and emotion, each act closes on a rousing party piece with the whole company; “Everybody Say Yeah” closes Act 1 while “Raise You Up/Just Be” wraps up the whole package with the clap-along audience participation and curtain call. Special mention should go to the drag quartet of Lola’s Angels; Jeffrey Follis, Andrew J. Hampton, Joshua Lalisan, Joshua Lalisan whose song and dance numbers may back up Lola and the company but never fade into the background.
If every night of the run of The Arts Club Kinky Boots is as energetic, enthusiastic and electric as opening night, the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage will be able to reduce its power bill by the end of the run, July 31st, 2022.
Tickets for Kinky Boots are on sale now at artsclub.com, special performances include; a Sunday Salon this weekend June 19, a special conversation on Vancouver’s drag scene and its evolution. TalkBack Tuesday June 28, and Vocal Eye Performances July 10 and 15.