If I had to describe Kinky Boots in one word, it wouldn't be enough. The show preaches a message of love and acceptance and is absolutely beautiful throughout every single second.
Now I will admit I went to the show, only to bring two of my friends for their first Broadway experience, and they wanted to see Brendon Urie. So naturally I scoured Ticketmaster, and got us fifth row seats on a Friday night. I also had very little idea what the show was about, having not seen any clips or listened to any of the music.
Set in England, Charlie Price (played by Urie) is the son of a shoe manufacturer who plans to give his company to his son. Charlie is engaged to Nicola (played by Shannon O'Boyle) and while they're moving to London from the countryside, Charlie learns that his father has died and he has to take over his shoe business, Price and Sons. And Charlie has a lot to learn, not just about shoes, but about life as he meets Lola (played by J. Harrison Ghee), a drag queen who struggles to be accepted by most people. As Price and Sons fails, Lola inspires Charlie to make a range of shoes for a range of men, instead of just traditional shoes for men. Lola helps Charlie to learn several important life lessons along the way, as he realizes what he really wants in life.
The entire cast is incredibly talented and I have to give a special mention to not just J. Harrison Ghee and Brendon Urie, but also to Taylor Louderman who plays Lauren, who is in love with Charlie. Her solo song, "The History of Wrong Guys" is not only a great song but she gives a fantastic performance as a relatable character. Despite only being in the company for about six months, she is one of the standouts of the show. Ghee is a force to be reckoned with on stage and gives an incredible performance in the entire show, but especially in "Land of Lola", "Sex is in the Heel", and "Hold Me in Your Heart". He has an incredible stage presence and can walk in heels very, very well. Urie is making his Broadway debut with the show, and it's fantastic to hear him singing different types of songs. He absolutely shines on stage, particularly in the numbers "Step One", "Everybody Say Yeah", and "Soul of a Man". While his run as Charlie Price ends in about two weeks, I really hope that he does more Broadway, as he looked like he was having the time of his life on stage.
And not just Urie looked like he loved being on stage. The entire cast looked like they were having a ball as they danced and sang on stage. One of my favorite songs from the show is the finale, called "Raise You Up/Just Be". Charlie had been focusing on getting the shoes to Milan to show buyers, and along the way he has forgotten how to treat the people he works with. Lola comes to his rescue, and the show ends with the message of lifting each other up. Charlie, having broken his engagement with Nicola, gets the right girl, though Lauren is a little bit shocked.
One of the lines from the show, that solidifies it's message of acceptance is "Ladies, gentlemen, and those who have yet to make up their minds". It really does prove that acceptance is everywhere, a message pertinent to the world today.
If you can, go see Brendon Urie in his last few weeks of performances, but if not, go see the show anyway. It will leave you in a good mood for many days to follow.