It is the 80th anniversary year for the Rockdale Musical Society and the Company has come up with a real winner with their production KINKY BOOTS, book by Harvey Fierstein and music and lyrics by pop icon Cyndi Lauper.
KINKY BOOTS is about shoe shop owner Charlie Price who has taken over the family business. He finds shoe sales have been on the decline and he needs something special to get business going again. Charlie finds an unlikely partnership with cabaret performer and drag queen artist Lola to produce a new brand of high heel, kinky shoes which prove to be hugely successful.
One of the main themes of the show was that of acceptance of difference as Lola cuts a very dramatic and confident figure that makes everyone notice. Even Charlie, who comes from a conservative background, realises that he needs to be more relaxed around Lola’s bold behaviour.
This was a wonderful production directed by Rod and Carina Herbert. The dance scenes were amazing as were the costumes. The sound and lighting designs were spot on. This show just had so much colour and vibrancy.
Cindy Lauper’s musical numbers were catchy and entertaining and well presented by the cast. There were some poignant ballads such as ‘I’m not my father’s son’ and ‘The history of wrong guys’. There were some great rousing, up tempo numbers such as “Everybody Says Yeah!, ‘Raise you up’, and the final number ‘Just Be’.
‘What a Woman wants’ was a .great number, chipping away at the stereotyping of what women want from a man with Lola/Simon showing that he is very popular with the women and has none of the usual attributes.
There was even a boxing match number reaping the song ‘In This Corner’, a scene which was well choreographed. Tracey Rasmussen’s choreography through the show was very good.
The performances by the principals- Marcus James Hurley as Charlie Price, William Manukia as Lola/Simon and Kate Younis as Lauren- were .great, each excellent in their own way. The production had a large cast and everyone performed well.
This is a hot ticket. The best community theatre production I have seen in a long time. Highly recommended, KINKY BOOTS is playing Rockdale Town Hall until the 14th September 2019.
