By Kimberly Harper
If you’re looking to escape the snow this weekend, Kinky Boots at PPAC may be the lighthearted romp you’re looking for to warm things up.
When Charlie Price (played by Lance Bordelon) leaves Northhampton for London, he assumes he’s leaving it all behind him, or, at least, the family shoe business, Price and Son, which he has no inclination to take over one day. This may be why the British were so fond of the “heir and a spare” plan, as his father is less than thrilled, but, digression aside, life has a way of not caring about your plans. When the senior Price unexpectedly dies, Charlie returns to sort things out, and finds that the fate of the factory isn’t looking good. With cheap imports flooding the country, no one wants to pay for locally sourced footwear.
Closing shop isn’t going to be easy, either, though: The workers refuse to be fired. One of them, Lauren (played by Sydney Patrick) tells Charlie to find a niche market and stop whining, failure isn’t an option for them. For some reason, Charlie listens to her.
Enter Lola, the tall, powerful drag queen who would practically sell his soul for a pair of sexy shoes made to withstand a grown man’s weight. Lola (stunningly played by Jos N. Banks) and fellow drag performers “the Angels” end up traveling to Northhampton to save Price and Son. Make me boots that are red and sparkly, Lola commands, and Charlie, with some funny slip-ups at the start, succeeds.
The show is mostly a surface-level examination of following your heart, changing your perception (as one burly factory worker, Don, learns the hard way), and burying the ghosts of your past. Some of the libretto is weak (there are only so many approximate rhymes for “hubris”) and a show about loyalty that has some strong pro-union sentiments is an interesting choice for a tour that is non-Equity, meaning the actors in this particular show aren’t seeing the benefits of the AEA union’s protection. That’s honestly a bigger sticking point for me than the weak moments in the show, and would give me pause before buying a ticket.
The performances are outstanding. Banks and his Angels especially bring down the house in one dance number after another, performed entirely in sky-high stilettos. Banks’ voice is also well showcased in several moving numbers. Bordelon is a strong actor who isn’t given the same opportunity to show off his full vocal range, but is a pleasure to listen to. Patrick, as Lauren, has a beautiful voice when singing in her true voice, but some of the magic is lost behind some of the character’s more grating vocal affectations. The ensemble is quite diverse and delivers a solid product from start to finish.
In summary, this isn’t deep, thought provoking theater by any means. But it’s visually stunning, has great choreography, and the cast is magnificent, which is sometimes exactly what you need.
Unfortunately, Kinky Boots is only here through Sunday, but if the weather doesn’t get too frightful, you may find this the delightful escape you’re hoping for. Tickets start at $39 and may be obtained at the theater’s box office, online at ppacri.org or by calling 401.421.2787
