Kinky Boots is the campest, feel-good musical to hit London since Taboo & Priscilla.
This show has heart, glitz, great tunes and show-stopping performances throughout by Killian Donnelly & especially Matt Henry.
With superb staging, breath-taking dance numbers, mind-blowing costumes and HUGE belly-laughs throughout.
It’s not surprising this show has taken Broadway by storm winning 6 Tony Awards.
With music by Cyndi Lauper – Kinky Boots is set in a failing Northampton shoe factory. It’s owner is forced to take drastic action & get kinky to save the business.
This is a 4* musical with two 5* performers….. GET TICKETS HERE!
Enjoy an Exclusive audio / video review via YouTube:
I was excited to attend the sell-out opening night of Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre on the Strand.
The energy in the room was electric and it was one of the most enthusiastic reactions to a performance I’ve ever seen in London….almost of Broadway proportions.
This show has some truly astonishing moments. The end of act one is a work of theatrical genius, not to mention a health and safety nightmare!
Imagine 4 moving treadmills and 20 actors all going in different directions at the same time – exciting and thrilling to watch.
This is also a rare West End hit that has no swearing and wouldn’t embarrass the kids or your aunty Fanny.
The set is relatively simple and uninspiring but is saved by some sensational lighting, hugely creative stage management and of course the OTT costumes.
They’ve invested in a state of the art surround sound system which amplified the band superbly. Sadly the vocals were often drowned out at key points. They need to get that sorted big-time….and quickly! Frustrating and doing the Stars absolutely no favours.
Here’s Cyndi Lauper getting her standing O on opening night in London….
The two main reasons for seeing this show is it’s stand out Stars….
Charlie is played by the current West End favourite and leading man Killian Donnelly.
He masterfully owns this somewhat ‘straight’ role and certainly knocks it out the park with his beautifully controlled, powerful and crisp vocals. His acting is effortless.
Lola played by Matt Henry offers an award winning standard 5* spectacular.
This guy is a sensation and frankly steals the entire show…..
What a killer, powerhouse performance! His version of ‘Hold Me In Your Arms’ left the entire audience captivated. He rightly received one of the longest ovations I’ve ever heard in the West End.
This guy channels Whitney, Beyoncé with the vocal beauty & prowess of Luther Vandross and kills it – I would go back just to hear his numbers back to back.
Breath-taking talent, killer gags & excellent comic timing. British talent at it’s absolute best.
This is our favourite song from the Broadway cast – ‘Not My Fathers Son’….
So, bravo you Kinky lot! This show will continue to do amazing business and I truly hope that Matt’s show-stealing performance gets the accolades and applause he so rightly deserves. He’s a 5* Star!
In reality this show offers absolutely nothing new to the West End and doesn’t make you immediately want to re-book like I felt at MEMPHIS, Miss Saigon & Gypsy this year.
Having said that, Kinky is packed with camp old nonsense, pop/disco tunes and has great heart celebrating a cute story of love, friendship and acceptance.
4* for Kinky Boots at the Adelphi Theatre on the Strand.
Turn up the mics and you’ll have the perfect feel good musical.
Review by Alex Belfield for Celebrity Radio 21st August 2015.
Leave a Reply