Before “Kinky Boots” became the Broadway musical sensation, it was a British film starring Joel Edgerton (“The Great Gatsby”) and Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”). The comedy about a shoe factory in financial trouble and its unexpected savior opened in the UK in 2005, wasn’t released in the US until 2006, and earned Ejiofor a Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical Golden Globe nomination in 2007.
Roger Ebert praised Ejiofor, who played Lola, the feisty and sensitive drag queen (whose real-name is Simon), in his 3-star review: “[he] shows an actor doing what not every actor can do: Taking a character bundled with stereotypes, clearing them out of the way, and finding a direct line to who the character really is.” However, the movie got hardly any attention, with a very limited release, and made less than $2M.
The Broadway adaptation of “Kinky Boots”, which began its run in 2013, had the powerhouse team of Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper behind it. The show soared to Tony-winning heights, earning Best Musical honors, and as Lola, Billy Porter won for Best Actor in a Musical. I just saw “Kinky Boots” in New York (with Porter back in the starring role), and it’s simply sensational. There’s a deep, rich and meaningful story, with several fantastic songs, including “The Most Beautiful Thing”, “Step One” and “Soul of a Man”.
For the amazingly choreographed “Everybody Say Yeah”, the cast races up and down working conveyor belts, never missing a step or note. And Porter is outstanding. “Not My Father’s Son” and “Hold Me in Your Heart” are the show’s signature songs and provide its most powerful moments. If you’re planning on taking a trip to NYC and haven’t seen it yet, put “Kinky Boots” on your to-do list. The show is also currently touring around the US and is finally opening in England.