The CVLT production of Kinky Boot brings a little bit of naughty to The Falls

The Chagrin Valley Little Theatre production of “Kinky Boots” opened this past weekend to a wildly enthusiastic crowd (in some cases a bit too vocally passionate) but I guess that it is just one of those shows. Genders are bent, long held opinions are altered, songs are sung, dances are performed all to show that anyone can be anything they want to be in this rapidly changing world...doo da, doo da day.

The Broadway musical is based on the 2005 British film by the same name that was written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth who were inspired by mostly true events. In October of 2012 the theatrical musical version written by Harvey Fierstein with music by Cyndi Lauper premiered at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago followed by its Broadway debut at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in April of 2013. Initially it was less well received by theater critics and audiences but got a second wind with 13 Tony Award nominations with six wins including Best Musical, Best Actor (Billy Porter) and Best Score (Cyndi Lauper). It went on to win three Olivier Awards also including Best New Musical.

Young Charlie Price (Jack Thompson or Dimitri Kosteas) is the fourth generation “Son” of the family business, Price & Son, that makes high quality brogues in the industrial town of Northampton, England. Unfortunately, the shoe industry is changing as people no longer seek quality shoes that last a lifetime but instead, cheaply manufactured fancier foot gear to get them through a season. As Charlie is growing up, another young boy, Simon (Sean Henderson Jones), is being raised in London who is fascinated by shoes (in particular, women’s shoes, specifically a pair of red high heels) that aggravates his strict father causing a riff between them.

In spite of Charlie’s father (Allen Littman) wish for him to take over the factory, Charlie’s dream is to move to London with his social climbing fiance, Nicola (Abby Longshore) to pursue a career in real estate. The two make their way to London to a tiny flat just as Charlie (Josh Budd) receives word that his elderly father has passed away forcing his return to the factory where the situation is grim.

Entire orders are being returned as the public’s taste for quality has changed. Charlie is determined to save the factory since many of the workers have known him since he was born. The workers, on the other hand, are having problems wondering why Charlie moved away in the first place and are skeptical of his return. Back in London, Charlie meets up with a musician friend, Harry (Jordon Matthew), who when not performing buys heavily discounted shoes to sell. Charlie offers the entire lot at cost just to keep the factory temporarily solvent.

Leaving the pub, Charlie encounters a woman being accosted by two thugs. He intervenes only to be knocked unconscious by the woman wielding a stiletto healed shoe. Charlie comes to in the dressing room of a seedy nightclub that caters to those with a more esoteric taste. Lola (Anthony Woods-Mitchell), formally known as Simon, is the club’s head “drag queen” who performs with her dance troupe “Angles” (Ev Brodsky, Billy Cummins, Christopher Fujikawa, Kegan Sulamoyo, Brayden Norvell and Christopher Wuehler). As he is recuperating, Charlie notices that Lola’s high heeled boots are poorly designed to hold a grown man’s weight. Lola explains that the boots are a vital part of any drag act but these are all that are available.

Charlie returns to Northampton to begin laying off the workers. One of the factory workers, Lauren (Liv Sharp), explodes telling him that other factories have survived by finding a new underserved niche market. Charlie suddenly realizes that his chance meeting with Lola could be a sign. He sends word to London and Lola soon shows up in all her drag glory to help design women’s boots that can be not only comfortable but also stand up to a man’s weight.

Lola and the angels arrive and start off by shelving Charlie’s initial design idea explaining that “sex is in the heel” and to start with that basis for the design. George (Eric Oswald), the factory manager, soon finds a way to reinforce with steel to give more heft to the heel. Charlie begs Lola to stay and design a new line for the prestigious footwear show in Milan in just three weeks. Charlie wants to introduce the world to Kinky Boots that just might save the factory and all of their jobs. Not everyone is please with the manufacturing changes as Don (Kyle Glascott), the factory foreman and some of his underlings are firing off crass comments concerning Lola and her crew.

Charlie thanks Lauren for the inspiring idea and offers her a promotion which she accepts suddenly realizing that she is falling in love with her boss. Lola arrives the next day ready to work wearing men’s clothing and is soon mocked. Charlie tries to comfort her as Lola talks about her being trained as a professional boxer but becoming estranged from her father when she showed up at a boxing match dressed in drag.

Nicola and her boss Richard (John Hickman) arrive from London with plans to turn the factory into upscale apartments and commercial development. Charlie refuses to sell as the first prototype of kinky boots comes off the assembly line.

Anthony Woods-Mitchell is the larger than life embodiment of Lola. He/She dances, sings and acts superbly, a true triple threat. The Angels in full glam make-up have a great time hamming it up on the stage although some of the costume changes are a bit gender revealing. Josh Budd as Charlie is a very capable actor but a little weak in the singing department with some off notes in the proceedings. Abby Longshore as Nicola does a good turn as the social climbing fiance but was plagued with a faulty mic throughout opening night. Liv Sharp as the love interest Lauren is suitable in her role. The rest of the cast of factory workers do wonders with their ensemble songs and synced movements.

The six piece orchestra is superb with Kristen Johnson (Keyboard), Doug Kubinski (Electric and Acoustic Guitar), Josh Leslie (Drums), Sarah Murin (Bass Guitar), Paul Stroud (Trombone) and Matt Wirfel (Trumpet) although the sound system was a bit off balanced that hurt the singer’s efforts.

The show is aptly directed by Greta Rothman with choreography by Jen Justice. April Rock does a great job on costume design (including the boots). The stage set by Tom West is great, beginning as the outside wall of the factory and when parted reveals a sparse yet spacious area for the dancers to move.

This small stage version of the popular Broadway hit will delight the local audience, especially if they are friends with any of the local talent. It is a big show in a small theater yet somehow it all works. Well worth the price of a ticket.

The Chagrin Valley Theatre production of Kinky Boots will be on stage at 40 River Street, Chagrin Falls, Ohio through August 12, 2023. For more information and tickets go to www.cvlt.org or call (440) 247-8955.