Milton Keynes Theatre's 20th birthday year is continuing to pull in the big name musicals and it is currently the turn of Kinky Boots, the winner of every major Best Musical award to take to the stage.
Kinky Boots is based on a true story that took place just up the road in Northampton which inspired a cult British movie before being turned into a Broadway musical by pop legend Cyndi Lauper and four time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, writes Chris Gregg.
It's a show with plenty of laughs, a sizeable amount of drag sass and of course some spectacular footwear, but at the heart of the story is the bromance between shoe factory boss Charlie Price (Joel Harper-Jackson) who has just inherited the struggling business and drag diva Lola (Kayi Ushe) who inspires him to reinvent the business making sturdy stilettoe boots for men.
The factory staff don't all warm immediately to the arrival of Lola and down to earth Don (played convincingly by Demitri Lampra) struggles to accept the new arrival. So Lola challenges him to a boxing match in a bizarre scene which proves a turning point.
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For a show which originated on Broadway, it's managed to capture the apathy and attitude of Northampton factory workers facing an uncertain future brilliantly. The sets are very authentic and there's a very original dance routine using full size working conveyor belts.
The performances are very believable - the factory workers sing and dance exactly as you'd imagine, in contrast with the drag queens who bring slick moves, big voices and lots of pazazz.
As the show continues, the performances get bigger and there is a showstopping duet between Charlie and Lola as they bond over their shared family tragedies. The pair are perfectly cast and have a great chemistry together, Kayi Ushe brings an authenticity to his performance which makes it hard to imagine him playing any other role.
Kinky Boots has delighted West End audiences for over three years and played over 2,500 performances on Broadway and it's easy to see why audiences love it.
This is a joyous show with a positive message about what can be achieved with an open mind and a good pair of shoes.
Performances continue until Saturday, November 9. To book your seat click here
