“Kinky Boots”: A Sexy, Energized Show about Shoes

Crossdressing, sex, and daddy issues are just some of the topics brought up in the musical “Kinky Boots.” The audience in Emens Auditorium at Ball State University loved the performance Monday night, cheering incredulously before the show even started. With actor Harvey Fierstein as playwright and singer Cyndi Lauper as composer, this energized and powerful show is colorful and sexy, reminding one of the early 90s with some of its musical numbers.

The talented Lance Bordelon plays Charlie Price, a young man who refuses to take his father’s stead in leadership of their family business. But upon his father’s sudden death, Charlie becomes determined to save the modern-day London factory, even though he still refuses to run the company himself. One night, Charlie witnesses a woman being harassed and intervenes, only to be knocked unconscious and learn upon waking that the woman is drag queen Lola, portrayed by Jos N. Banks.

So one of the first musical numbers in the production, a calm song about shoes being “The Most Beautiful Thing in the World” with tame choreography leads into sassy, fiery songs like “Land of Lola,” with legs being kicked high into the air by Lola and her angels, all crossdressers.

Charlie is later inspired by Lola and her backup dancers, taking the idea of serving a niche market and creating a woman’s boot that can be comfortable for a man. Of course, there’s a song about the sex appeal of high heels, appropriately named “The Sex is In the Heel.” This number alone had awesome choreography, including a performer doing the splits, with another doing a backflip. All in heels.

And it’s also worth mentioning Sydney Patrick, who plays Lauren, the quirky employee who has a huge crush on Charlie. “The History of Wrong Guys” literally sounds like “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” but with more comedy. Now a woman fanning her armpits and daydreaming allowed is the true definition of what every female deals with regarding romance.

Although crossdressing is mentioned in every song performed by Lola, the topic itself is not strongly discussed until a scene where the character shows up in men’s clothing and is mocked by Don, a conservative employee who is very stuck in his ways. Charlie and Lola end up bonding over their complex relationships with their fathers through the song “Not My Father’s Son,” a duet that showed the true strengths of both Bordelon’s and Banks’s voices.

After a cool dance number involving conveyor belts performers used as treadmills (“Everybody Say Yeah”), Act II begins with Lola and Don challenging one another via a boxing match to see who the better “man” is. Lola lets Don win, telling him to accept someone for who they are. And acceptance stands as the overall message of the production.

“Kinky Boots” can sometimes feel like it’s a rehash of Cyndi Lauper songs, depending on the number. But with songs like “Son of a Man” and “Hold Me in Your Heart,” it does seem like a true and powerful Broadway production that promotes themes of equality and acceptance. Crossdressing alone can remind someone of Dr. Frank N. Furter from “The Rocky Horror Show,” but Lola possesses more sass, flair, and debonaire.

Direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell was lively and sexy. But minor errors with synchronization in “Everybody Say Yeah” stood out a bit. With conveyor belts being pushed around, it seemed like the performers were not used to the type of stage Emens Auditorium provided them.

There also seemed to be some technical issues, but that’s very questionable as to if that’s the production’s fault or the building’s. Microphones crackled a bit due to the sheer volume of the performer’s voices, especially in the opening number. And there were a few lighting issues, particularly in “Soul of a Man,” where it seemed as if the lighting director forgot some places where the spotlight was needed.

Mr. Bordelon is a strong but quiet presence, being powerful in his musical numbers but somewhat quiet with his speaking lines. He hits the highest of notes with clarity and strength, bringing emotion into every song he’s in.

And Mr. Banks rocked the dress and heels in every scene. It seemed that he really was the character of Lola. The sassiness of the character could easily be seen, be it a swift punch or heel click. After the song “Hold Me in Your Heart,” a powerful song about acceptance, several audience members stood and cheered.

Every performer did a great job bringing energy and sexiness to this production of “Kinky Boots.” This is a show that brought audience members to its feet before it even ended. It’s powerful, fun, and, of course, sexy.