“Kinky Boots”: these boots were made for walking

The national Non- Union tour of “Kinky Boots,” the Tony Award winner for Best Musical in 2013, graced the stage at the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theater at Clayton Center for the Arts on Jan. 12, 2019.

“Kinky Boots,” based on the movie of the same name, tells the story of Price & Son’s, a shoemaking factory, and what happens when the son of the owner, Charlie, takes over for his dad. It’s a tale of overcoming differences, accepting yourself, creativity, and, of course, boots.

With music by Cindi Lauper and the book by Harvey Fierstein, the musical is riddled with celebrity names and awards. I had high expectations, which were stepped on by stilted dialogue and technical difficulties. The book was full of jokes that didn’t quite land, and the dialogue seemed forced, choppy, and short.

The actors kept losing their British accents, especially during the musical numbers. This may have been due to the fact that the show was Non-Union.

Throughout the show, there were a few technical difficulties. During a couple of songs, there was feedback from the sound system. During the second act of the show, yelling could be heard from offstage distracting from a pivotal song, “Hold Me in Your Heart.” Even though the musical was riddled with minor issues, the music, dancing, and singing was superb.

Cindi Lauper’s musical talent shines through the fun and upbeat soundtrack, that one can find themselves clapping along to. The dancing was perhaps the best part of the show.

The Angels, a group of drag queens, played by Jordan Archibald, Derek Brazeau, Ryan Michael James, Andrew Norlen, and Ernest Terrell Williams, were amazing. The dancing by the Angels was enthralling to watch as they performed most of the show in thigh-high heeled boots.

The show was choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, a two-time Tony Award winner for choreography including the original production of “Kinky Boots.”

All in all, it was worth the time to see. I really enjoyed the show, and from what I gauge from the audience, “Kinky Boots” was definitely a hit. Something that makes Maryville College unique is that our student body gets the chance to see touring productions of Broadway shows often for a discounted price.

This is a safe way we, as college students, can begin to experience the world of professional theater with no more than a short walk and ten dollars.