WHO’S READY TO GET KINKY?
Well…that’s the pitch emblazoned on the program cover of the production currently on the boards at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts with the 3-D Theatricals version of KINKY BOOTS. Maybe this pitch floats your boat, but for this critic the attraction of this show has more to do with “mom’s apple pie” and kitchen table values in general, inviting all to celebrate their differences.
The creators of KINKY BOOTS, Harvey Fierstein (book) and Cyndi Lauper (music & lyrics) have shaped a stage musical based on the movie of the same title. The 2006 film on which the story is based centers on a young man, “Charley Price” (Lukas Poost), who reluctantly assumes ownership of his father’s struggling British shoe factory upon the founder’s unexpected passing. After a chance encounter with a drag queen named “Lola” (Cornelius Jones, Jr.), the young man embarks on a quest to transition from a conservative men’s shoe workplace to that of an establishment fashioning quality boots for a flamboyant clientele. In other words, Charley and his new friend, along with his sometimes befuddled employees, race full throttle into this unusual niche business and in the process learn to appreciate their commonalities as well as their uniqueness (but not without a series of complications along the journey). Supposedly, this resulting narrative is based on a true story.
Vying for Charley’s loving attentions are his current fiancee “Nicola” (Dayna Sauble), who has zero interest in his legacy from his father and maintains a proclivity for the finer things in life, and a more down-to-earth, yet savvy factory worker who seems more attuned to Charley’s welfare (i.e. “Lauren” (Emily Goglia)). The latter young lady previously has been unlucky in love and shares her litany of failed romances in a showstopper: “The History of Wrong Guys”; her performance shines as the production standout in my eyes.
That is not to say that the two principals, Mr. Poost and Mr. Jones are themselves undeserving of accolades as well. In fact, both are offering Broadway calibre performances. The former’s “Charley” evolves from an overwhelmed young executive doing his duty by his family to a caring leader concerned for his employees and willing to go to bat for them when the chips are down. His powerhouse vocals serve Ms. Lauper’s score admirably. On the 
other hand, the latter’s “Lola” provides the grit, the determination and the sensitivity and understanding as “she” dazzles and shimmies her way through the “Price & Son” turnaround. Miss Lola is a force of nature as she displays her feminine wiles bedazzled in sequins at every turn.
A special shoutout is in order to her coterie of drag queen attendants (the “Angels” with a capital ”A”) who energize the proceedings by sashaying and dancing to perfection. The athletic choreography is compliments of Linda Love Simmons (assisted by Hannah Jean Simmons). Wowza! These glamour queens include the following: Eric Stanton Betts, Jake DuPree (also “Dance Captain”), Callum Gugger, Gerry Kenneth, Christopher Mosley and Rodrigo Varandas. Also “Dan” (Javier Garcia), the hardcore employee sourpuss, and “George” (Jeff Skowron), the veteran factory quality assurance expert, both enjoy some fine moments as well.
Benet Braun provides the musical leadership and conducts the accomplished 11-pc 
orchestra, too. Broadway’s John Tartaglia, the Director, elicits the fine cast performances and keeps those kinky boots a- struttin’ to and fro. Lastly, the array of talent in the ensemble ensures that the Price & Son workforce grounds the production in realistic trappings.
Around my kitchen table as I was growing up, there were a lot of discussions about caring for others, respecting those who may be different from us, along with lectures about personal responsibility. It seems to me that all of the above are at the core of KINKY BOOTS. Come see what all the fuss is about at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts.
