Review: KINKY BOOTS THE MUSICAL IN CONCERT, Theatre Royal Drury Lane

Photo credit: Mark Senior

Since 2019, when the West End and touring productions closed, the UK has been deprived of a professional production of Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper’s Kinky Boots. With themes of acceptance and raising one another up, Kinky Boots is a show well needed in the current age. As part of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane’s Summer Concert series, audiences can once again enjoy this feel-good musical for just two performances. 

Certainly not the obvious choice for a concert setting, Kinky Boots is backed by the London Musical Theatre Orchestra, who play this score beautifully under the direction of Freddie Tapner. It is initially staged like a traditional concert, opening with the cast walking on stage to sit on evenly placed seats facing out towards the audience, holding black folders of music and lyrics. For fans of previous productions of Kinky Boots, this seems quite unfitting. Kinky Boots has original music with a pop influence from writer and lyricist Lauper, and it is questionable whether in concert form with a full orchestra adds much to the show. However, within the first number, this stiff formatting loosens and scenes are created from nothing by the actors and limited lighting. The script is integral to the storyline so this is a much more effective way of staging this concert version than what initially appears. 

The musical is loosely based upon a true story and the 2005 film of the same name. Following the death of his father, Charlie Price (Joel Harper-Jackson) becomes the owner of his family’s shoe factory and must decide to remain loyal to where he came from or whether to take a different path from his father before him. Harper-Jackson steps back into the shoes of Charlie, taking over from Matt Willis due to scheduling conflicts, and reprises his role from the previous UK tour with a very comfortable performance. Despite the almost three-year gap and minimal rehearsal period, he leads the show exceptionally well, making Charlie’s difficult vocals look effortless and using the concert opportunity to add his own flourishes. Where other cast members occasionally fumble lines and musical timing, there is a sense that Harper-Jackson is the real driving force behind getting this show from beginning to end. 

Harper-Jackson’s co-star is Cedric Neal who plays Lola/Simon. Charlie bumps into drag queen Lola whilst contemplating his future and she becomes a crucial person in helping him find his way, saving the factory and showing the importance of embracing our differences. This is Neal’s first time in Kinky Boots and yet audiences might think he has spent time working on this character for years. Lola has a lot of dialogue and Neal is intentional with his every word, delivering a performance that few could predict was his first public portrayal of this character. The only disappointment with Neal is that more people will not have the chance to see how spectacular he is in this role. 

The show, even with its concert staging, remains very similar to its fully staged productions and at times relies on the audience’s imagination. Minus the physicalities and a few scripts in hand, the full cast successfully perform Kinky Boots as though it were the real thing, but it may be easier for those who've seen the show previously to completely follow along without the cues of costuming, props, and set.

Of the secondary cast members who are new to the ‘Land of Lola’, a few actors really make their mark in this limited concert. Kayleigh McKnight and Nikki Bentley as Trish and Pat, two of the workers from the factory, are brilliant vocalists, taking advantage of the opportunity to embellish the score and show audiences what they can do. Courtney Bowman is ridiculously good as Lauren and it feels very much her own hilarious version of this already funny character.

Audiences who are already familiar with this show will be elated with this concert at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. With not one but two incredible actors giving standout performances in the leading roles, this is more than just a celebration of Lauper’s excellent music. That being said, with a concert staging, there are limitations. Kinky Boots is a show that demands to be fully staged to accompany its storyline and elements of the production can feel amiss.

It is a real joy to have Kinky Boots back on stage, if just for a little while, and this production and cast do the show a justice that has us yearning for its return long term.

An uplifting, well-executed and joyful concert, needed by audiences today.

**** Four stars

Reviewed by: Cat Hancock

Kinky Boots in Concert plays its final performance at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane this evening.