Welcome to Quad City Music Guild’s 2024 season with the opening of the kitschy, fun, touching, and uplifting Kinky Boots with book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by Cindi Lauper,
The script was adapted from the Miramax film of the same name which was based on the true story of a British shoe factory owner struggling to save the factory from closing by partnering with a loud and proud cabaret drag queen.
Kinky Boots’ had its 2012 U.S. premier in Chicago followed by its Broadway premier in 2014; it closed 5 years later. It received a whopping 13 Tony award nominations, winning 6 which included Best Musical – beating out Matilda, The Musical – and Best Score, making Lauper the first woman to win alone in that category.
The action takes place in Northampton, England where factory owner, Charlie, reluctantly (because his fiancée aspires to a real estate career in London) inherits his father’s failing shoe factory. He struggles to find a way to do that until meeting Lola when he attempts to rescue her from an attack by a couple of ruffians. Lola’s over the top persona inspires Charlie to take the factory in a totally new direction by targeting the drag queen niche market with high heeled boots manufactured to accommodate a man’s physique and he recruits Lola to collaborate with him.
In the interest of time let’s just say there are several bumps along the way including the fear of paternal disappointment, homophobic prejudice, an engagement breakup, a secret crush on the boss, a boxing match, and a fashion show in Milan, Italy. Intrigued? Let me assure you that you’ll thoroughly enjoy the ride, buoyed by Lauper’s impressive lyrics, flamboyant costumes by Em Schwartz and crew, over the top wigs by Bradley Jensen, and the spot on set designed by Mike Turczynski.
Heading up the cast as Charlie is Dave Edwards and as Lola and her male persona, Simon, is Keenen Wilson. Edward’s vocal chops are awesome and Wilson’s vocals are only matched by his glitzy and ostentatious characterization but he does need to watch his projection in his intimate spoken dialogue. Their rendition of what was my favorite number in the show, “I’m Not My Father’s Son” was touching, sensitive, and genuine and perfectly exposed their common denominator to be accepted just as they are.
Adrienne Jane Evans delivers a frenetic performance as Lauren in her delightful “The History of Wrong Guys” number. To my untrained ear, it sounded a bit off key, but as I reflected on it I think it actually enhanced her zany portrayal. It definitely was one of the highlights of the show.
As funny and entertaining as this show is, along with QCMG’s superb execution, the monumental message here is the universal longing to be accepted – our genuine selves. Whether white, black, Latinx, or queer in all its iterations, we all just want to live comfortably and without fear in our own skin. Kinky Boots celebrates diversity and brings this home in spades.
Kinky Boots continues at Quad City Music Guild’s theatre in Moline’s Prospect Park Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 14 at 2:00 p.m.