This review aired on KBAQ September 18, 2014

ENTERTAINING “KINKY BOOTS” OPENS BROADWAY SEASON AT ASU GAMMAGE

“KINKY BOOTS”
Broadway Across America – Arizona, ASU Gammage
Tempe, AZ

Broadway arrived Tuesday at ASU Gammage when the national tour of the charmingly entertaining but silly and daffy musical “Kinky Boots” opened the local Broadway season.  The show was every bit as delightful as the New York production.

But it wasn’t a good night at ASU Gammage when the theater itself crammed a sold-out crowd into the theater’s inadequate lobby space until the theater doors finally opened just 10 minutes before the stated 7:30 p.m. curtain time.  That distressing turn of events made “Kinky Boots” almost 15 minutes late starting.

There were other unexplained problems including a fire truck and ambulance outside the theater as patrons left to find their cars in the badly overcrowded parking lot.  It was just one of those miserable opening nights that are becoming common at ASU Gammage as patrons who are paying some of the highest local ticket prices to attend Broadway productions are treated miserably.  When the show finally got going, things on stage were entertaining as the musical dazzled theatergoers as it did on Broadway.  Sets and costumes duplicated the original production and the cast, while not quite as crisp and entertaining as their Broadway counterparts, still brought the silly show’s delightful fun to vibrant life.

“Kinky Boots” has a tuneful score with zany lyrics that revitalized Cyndi Lauper’s song writing career and Harvey Fierstein created an entertaining story based on the popular movie.  The musical traces the comeback of a bankrupt family shoe factory in Northern England and how the owner’s son, Charlie, finds an unconventional way to save the factory.  He trusts in his creative male shoe designer in drag, Lola, who creates sturdy but stylish stilettos to keep the business going.  There are a myriad of simple-minded problems that plague the factory but none stifle the shoe emporium’s success or the unabashed fun that the ridiculous events spark.

Kyle Taylor Parker has a field day as Lola as he sashays around stage flouncing hysterically in a succession of wacky heels and colorful outfits.  Although it’s hard to follow in the footsteps of the original Lola, Billy Porter, Parker is a delightful hoot.  Steven Booth could add more humor to Charlie but most of the cast emulate the Broadway originals effectively.  The entire show entertains so extraordinarily because of Jerry Mitchell’s spirited direction and dazzling choreography.

“Kinky Boots” is one of those harmless but truly entrancing delights that provide raucously good entertainment.  “Kinky Boots” continues through Sunday (September 21).  For tickets, call the ASU Gammage box office at 480-965-6678 or order online at www.asugammage.com.

Grade: B