By Barry Reszel
The most famous stage boots since Nancy Sinatra’s have barely the time to be taken off for a foot rub as Broadway in Chicago’s Kinky Boots national tour steams the windows of the Oriental Theatre, just through September 4.
So, ladies, gentlemen and those who have yet to make up their minds, if there’s some space on the Labor Day weekend calendar and you’ve somehow missed the Chicago pre-Broadway premiere and subsequent tour stop last year, it’s time to see what the fuss is all about.
Because this is a production that demands, “Everybody say, Yeah!” And by “Everybody,” it means EveryBody.
For those still maintaining their Kinky Boots virginity and as a reminder to Kinky veterans, the Harvey Fierstein book with Cyndi Lauper‘s music and lyrics took 2013 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Score (Lauper), Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), Best Actor (Billy Porter), Best Orchestrations (Stephen Oremus) and Best Sound Design (John Shivers). It’s a quirky story of a young, professional Englishman in a working-class town, Charlie Price, (played in this production by handsome Adam Kaplan) who inherits his father’s nearly bankrupt shoe factory along with the next-generation guilt to keep the business solvent. So he eschews his self-centered, London-focused fiancée and prays for a miracle to save the family business and livelihood of its workers.
Enter Simon/Lola, a cross-dressing entertainer originated by Billy Porter, now portrayed on tour by the unbelievable talents embodied in J. Harrison Ghee. The chance meeting of the two inspires Charlie to make stiletto-heeled boots to sustain the weight of a man. More importantly, it inspires the two men to break free of their father’s desires, live their lives authentically and send home the message that all should accept others for who they are.
The ultimate performance take-away from this tour stop belongs to Ghee. In the demanding dual role of flamboyant Lola and self-esteem challenged Simon, Ghee seamlessly transitions between the two. And as the tallest member of the cast before donning Lola’s stilettos, Ghee stands out in every way.
That includes his delicious singing voice equally suited for the belts of “The Land of Lola” and “Sex is in the Heel,” along with the tenderness needed for ballads “Not My Father’s Son” and “Hold Me in Your Heart.”
Perhaps Ghee’s own experience working drag shows in Tokyo and New York, and the fact he didn’t tell his father about them until he was cast in the Kinky Boots tour, offers some insight into his flawless performance. But unlike Lola, who’s “reconciliation” with a disapproving father comes basically too late, Ghee’s communication with his North Carolina pastor/dad positively reflects the message of this musical.
“Sometimes I joke with people that Cyndi Lauper must have been in my living room and [known] my life,” Ghee said in an interview last year. “Some of her lyrics hit very close to home.
“My dad got to see me be Lola in North Carolina, and we sat down the day before the show and we talked about the drag. And he now understands it’s part of my job and what I do, but it doesn’t define me. He understands my stance on drag, and now he respects it and is very supportive of me.”
An added highlight of this Chicago stop is the fine work of Tiffany Engen portraying Lauren, a factory worker and ultimate love interest to Charlie. She makes an almost stereotypical role wholly her own, and both Engen’s vocal prowess and comedic timing in “The History of Wrong Guys” turn the song into an undeniably luminous piece of this production.
To be sure, this Kinky Boots is a first-rate production of a funny, soulful, insightful musical that not only entertains but encourages patrons to introspect. And for those who don’t want to think too deeply, the finale, “Raise You Up/Just Be” offers this Spark Notes approach to a 12-step program for all:
One: Pursue the truth.
Two: Learn something new.
Three: Accept yourself and you’ll accept others, too.
Four: Let love shine.
Five: Let pride be your guide.
Six: Change the world when you change your mind.
Just be who you wanna be.
And to that, EveryBody, say Yeah!
Broadway in Chicago’s “Kinky Boots” runs through Sept. 4 at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph Street, Chicago. Tickets ($25 – $98) and more information are available online here.
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