Uptown Players presents Kinky Boots
Kinky Boots
Directed by John de los Santos
My Thoughts on Kinky Boots at Uptown Players or…Saving Price and Son or…Whatever Lola Wants
Uptown Players Present
Kinky Boots
Music and Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Directed and Choreographed by John de los Santos
Angels/Lola Choreographed by Evor Wright
Music Directed by Vonda K. Bowling
Kinky Boots at the Uptown Players is one of those productions that you will be telling people years from now that you saw. Everything about it works splendidly, resulting in one of the most blissful, joy inducing shows ever.
Kudos to Director/Choreographer John de los Santos for assembling a cast of stellar performers and creating a flawless show that never lags. Special kudos to Choreographer Evor Wright who gives Lola and her Angels moves that are exciting, sexy and would make Ginger Rogers blush. And that band! Vonda K. Bowling directs a group of musicians that includes Geno Young, Dennis Langevin, Aaron Sutton, Sara Bollinger, Michael Ptacin, Carlos Strudwick, and Christian Gonzalez who fill the Kalita Humphreys with their hidden (they cannot be seen from the audience), but magic sounds. Keeping up with all the music cues in this show must be a bit like working one of those busy switch boards in a 1940’s movie. The main set of Price and Son Shoe Factory by Dennis Canright is so realistic, you may be tempted to go up and try to make a pair of kinky boots for yourself. Scott Guenther’s lighting keeps everything in focus and Brian Christensen’s sound design makes sure we hear every word. The costumes for Lola and the Angels by Gregg Barnes are a visual feast, while he makes the factory workers appropriately working class and the wigs by Josh Marquette are works of art. All these pros working behind the scenes in Kinky Boots contribute greatly to its success, but it is the performances that make this show one of the best I have seen at Uptown Players.
The ensemble is beyond good. I do not know how they managed to perfect those British accents, but there was nary a slip up on opening night, and, in addition, they are all excellent singers. Tim Brawner, who also plays Mr. Price, Olivia Cartwright, Jason Hallman, Spencer Laboda, who also plays Harry and has a terrific voice, Thi Le, Gena Loe, William Martin, Mark Tam Quach, and Gerald Taylor II are all outstanding. Tony Martin as George, Stephanie Felton as Pat, Hope Endrenyl as Trish, Britton Melton as Richard Bailey, Ace Rainey as Young Charlie, and Andre Reed as Young Lola all get their moments to shine like a rhinestone on one of Lola’s frocks. Presley Duyck as Nicola, Charlie’s fiancée, has such an appealing stage presence that it is difficult to remember we are not supposed to like her. Every show needs a “bad guy,” and Trey Tolleson with his great voice, swagger, and bravado as Don, is a perfect “not so bad, bad guy.” Indeed, watching Tolleson’s transformation from intolerant dolt to man with a heart, is one of the big pleasures of Kinky Boots. Rachel Nicole Poole, in a scene stealing star turn if there ever was one, is Lauren, a factory worker who has a crush on Charlie, the engaged owner of Price and Son shoes. Poole gets one of the show’s best numbers with “The History of Wrong Guys” and her comic talents charmed the audience. I have only one question for Max J. Swarner, where have you been? I have never had the pleasure of seeing him perform before this, but I would certainly not miss any future appearances. Swarner, a first-rate actor, is also a powerhouse singer whose ‘Soul of a Man” just about brings down the house. He makes the slightly flawed Charlie, an engaging, full realized character. Swarner, who at times reminded me of Raul Esparza, is the quintessential leading man. Before I get to Lola, there are six Angels I must mention who prove with their dancing and gyrations that “the sex” is not just in the heel. These gorgeous, limber “ladies” are Kyle Fleig, Isaiah Christopher-Harris Lloyd, Domanick Hubbard, Joshua McLemore, Allen Porterie, and Sammy Swim. This sextet of young people dances, sings, and turn high drag into high art as they support Lola and give the staff of Price and Son a lesson or two in style and deportment.
L-O-L-A! She may not drink champagne that tastes like cherry cola, but she does everything else and does it like the Superstar Lee Walter is. From first appearance to final bow, Walter wows us, not only dressed as Lola, but also as Lola’s alter ego Simon. Walter, singing ‘I’m Not My Father’s Son,” as Simon is an incredibly heartfelt moment in the show. But when Walter hits the stage in “Land of Lola,” the evening takes off into the stratosphere and never returns. Walter’s every little gesture, every small move of the hand is so nuanced, you know you are watching a consummate actor, who, by the way, also sings and dances like a dream. This is a performance that will go down in DFW theater history.
Kinky Boots, although definitely a musical comedy, is also a musical with an important message for everyone to be who they want to be and that you change the world when you change your mind. It is a story of love, acceptance, rebounding, and succeeding in our rainbow-colored world. Uptown Players has struck gold with this production. Do not miss it. You wouldn’t want to anger Lola!
