Tony Award-winning “Kinky Boots” with music and lyrics by the iconic Cyndi Lauper and book by the legendary Harvey Fierstein is playing until March 22, 2020, at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland. Mark Minnick again directs and choreographs an outstanding production and Toby Orenstein is Artistic Director.
The musical is based on the film “Kinky Boots” written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth. The musical opened in Chicago in 2012 and then Broadway in 2013. The magnificent Billy Porter played Lola. It won Best Musical, Best Original Score and Best Actor in a Musical for Porter.
Briefly, Charlie Price (Matt Hirsh) inherits his family’s shoe factory after moving to London with his present girlfriend, Nicola (MaryKate Brouillet) The factory is now almost bankrupt. By fate, he meets Lola (DeCarlo Raspberry) a drag queen. Charlie discovers that this type of entertainer is in need of hot kinky high-heeled boots that are made for a man’s foot and stature. So, Charlie gets the idea to fill this niche and save his factory. Charlie has to deal with some disgruntled and bigoted workers. Lola deals with family issues. Of course, there is also some romance between Charlie and Lauren (Jana Bernard), an employee in his factory.
The winter can be chilling in this part of the country, but “Kinky Boots” will heat up your season with this production that is both fun to watch but also brings us a message of tolerance for people who are different.
“Kinky Boots” is Lola. Charlie says at one point whenever Lola leaves there is a hole in the room. When Lola’s character is not on stage there also seems to be a hole. The other characters are fun but predictable. Lola is not. So, the actor who plays the role really makes the show. Raspberry makes Toby’s “Kinky Boots” a most memorable production. He becomes the character and never veers from this portrayal of one of the most interesting and complex transvestites to ever appear on stage. Whether he is singing as the chanteuse, “The Land of Lola” and “Sex is in the Heel” or belting out the diva-like ballad, “Hold Me in Your Heart,” Raspberry defines this role. He is in the spotlight both as the drag queen performing for his audience and later in a wonderfully choreographed boxing match and gives us a most powerful performance.
Hirsh does a fine job as Charlie. He has great chemistry with Raspberry which is exemplified in their heartfelt duet, “I’m Not My Father’s Son.” His solo “The Soul of a Man” is one of the highlights of the musical and shows us Hirsh’s talent.
The supporting cast also gives solid performances. Standouts were Brouillet as Nicola, the ambitious girlfriend, David James as George, the manager at the factory, Russell Sunday as Don, the factory tough-guy who is intolerant of Lola, Bernard as the pretty worker singing about her crush on Charlie (“The History of Wrong Guys”), and Jane Boyle as Trish, the hard-working woman facing possible unemployment.
The rest of the Ensemble includes David Bosley-Reynolds as Mr. Price, Jonah Hale as Young Charlie, Gavin Lampasone as Young Lola, Ryan Holms as Simon Sr., Adrienne Athanas as Pat, Dustin Perrott as Harry, Jeffrey Shankle as Richard Bailey and Coby Kay Callahan as the Milan Stage Manager. (Note: Patrick Ford and Joseph Wanji play Young Charlie and Young Lola, respectively, on alternate performances.)
Not to be ignored are the Angels, the drag queen ensemble that back up Lola. They almost steal the show several times. They include Randyn Fullard, Michael Mattocks, Ariel Messeca, Solomon Parker, David Singleton and Mark Sullivan. All can strut their stuff with the best of them.
Mark Minnick’s Direction and Choreography are always satisfying and “Kinky Boots” is just another feather in his cap, or in this case, his shoe. Having everyone dancing gracefully in six-inch heeled boots is not an easy chore. As always, he makes the most of the space at Toby’s.
Ross Scott Rawlings Musical Direction hits all the right chords. His orchestra helps make Lauper’s music come alive.
Scenic and Lighting Designer, David A. Hopkins, creates a wonderfully mobile and interesting set, going from nightclub to fight ring to factory floor to a runway in Milan. I love the red boots that light up all around the audience.
Mark Smedley also helps blend the music and the voices with his expert sound design.
Costume Designer, Janine Sunday, deserves her own award for all those wonderful drag queen costumes and for all those wonderfully kinky boots.
The winter can be chilling in this part of the country, but “Kinky Boots” will heat up your season with this production that is both fun to watch but also brings us a message of tolerance for people who are different. Something we all should remember in this fractional time.
Running Time: Two hours and forty-five minutes with an intermission.
“Kinky Boots” will be playing until March 22, 2020, at Toby’s Dinner Theatre, 5900 Symphony Woods Road, Columbia, MD 21044. For information on “Kinky Boots” go to Toby’s website. For tickets online. For information about the present production and future, shows go to their website.
As always, a tasty dinner or brunch buffet is part of the cost of admission.
Note: “Kinky Boots” is not recommended for very young audiences due to some of the mature subject matter. On the other hand, mature teens might find the message one they can identify with easily.
For further reading see our ‘A Quick 5’ with DeCarlo Raspberry.
