‘Everybody Say Yeah Yeah…’ – Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre, London. 23.03.2018

Having had an evening viewing pre-booked and planned, the boy was away, I had a day to myself…So I took my chance of a few of TodayTix lotteries. After a great horse riding lesson to my delight on my return back to my phone I had an hour to claim my front row ticket! My first show for my two show day, I would be returning back to Price and Son’s Shoe Factory – Kinky Boots!

I was lucky last time when I saw this musical for the first time to win Front Row Lottery during the final weeks of the original cast, today I was seeing the forth season cast and I it was a cast I was particularly excited to see! Kinky Boots has only recently announced that it will be closing in January 2019 after just over 1,400 performances – another reason to go back and see it! Based on the film of the same name, it tells the story of Charlie Price having recently lost his father, he takes ownership of his much loved shoe factory. With it however comes the realisation of his fathers struggle to keep the factory a float, as business is not what it used to be for the lifetime shoes. Hope comes in the form of Lola, a Drag Queen who not only turns the shoe factory upside down for the better but teaches Charlie a thing or two about who he is.

This production is such a feel good show, that gets you dancing in your seat – especially with Lola and the Angel’s numbers! It is one where you can’t find a reason not to like it and teaches the world a valuable lesson that we should ‘accept everyone for who they are.’  Having been a huge fan of the film myself and absolutely love everything drag (Ru Paul Drag Race – Love it!), I will always have a soft spot for this musical. The soundtrack is one to purchase after viewing, with excellent songs created and written by Music Legend Cindi Lauper, you come away singing – a sign of a great musical!

The forth season cast were as follows:

Charlie Price – Oliver Tompsett

Lola – Simon – Anthony Rhoden

Lauren – Natalie McQueen

Nicola – Cordelia Farnworth

Don – Sean Needham

George – Antony Reed

Pat – Rosie Glossop

Harry – Jordon Fox

Trish – Abbey Addams

Angels – Jak Allen-Anderson, Jed Berry, Louis Clarke-Clare, Daniel Downing, Jemal Felix, Tom Scanlon

Ensemble – Abbey Williams, Jonathan Carlton, Robert Grose, David Haydn, Keith Higham, Graham Kent, Hannah Price, Anna Stolli, Olivia Winterflood.

As mentioned before, I was quite excited about the announcement of this current cast. Reason being, Oliver Tompsett! Stepping into the shoes from David Hunter, Oliver is now the new Charlie Price of Price and Sons. Why he has only waited till now to do so… I don’t know. Oliver has the kind nature, personality and voice to suit all of Charlie’s requirements – and this matinee apparently he was not feeling too good, you couldn’t tell. I loved his renditions of ‘Step one’ and ‘Soul of a Man’ with every word felt within his voice. He had great chemistry with his two leading ladies Lauren and Nicola (Cordelia Farnworth), or I should make it three…how can you not enjoy his performance.

Another cast member I was excited about was Natalie McQueen starring in the role of Lauren, similar to Oli again how has she only now landed this role. There is no denying that Natalie has the voice to slay, having seen her previously in Murder Ballard, and Wonderland. But she is Lauren from head to toe, making the audience fall in love with her, laugh with her through her crush to Charlie and cheering at the end when she finally nabbed him! It was great to see them both on stage again.

Following in the steps of Matt Henry in the biggest Queen on stage Lola is Simon-Anthony Rhoden, he has the style, the walk, the voice, and the acting to a T. Especially the personality of Lola, that you can’t help but love. His comic timing and display was excellent, making you laugh out loud without fail. You could see he was loving what he was doing and I love when I see that on stage, you feel uplifted and when it comes through in your performance you know you are doing it right. Along with Lola there was 6 other Angels, all of which deserve a mention as dam they have legs I want, and moves I ain’t got! Each of them slayed, although they weren’t lip syncing they were defiantly doing it for their life, and did not F*** it up… see what I did there ;-).

We then have the factory workers, all of whom had their moment to shine, Sean Needham has been with the show since the very beginning now playing Don. He was great in his role, I especially loved ‘In this Corner’ where he comes into his own, along with great comic moments. I also have to mention Jordon Fox’s Harry, I loved his voice during ‘Take What You Got’ falling in love with it instantly. I know he understudies as Charlie Price I may just have to keep and eye out for his dates and catch him at one point.

If you get the chance to catch this musical, or have done than you know why I love it so. I loved this cast, they were so lovely at the stage door – which is lucky when it was a matinee. I still have 6 months to return, believe me it will happen!

For all information about Kinky Boots go to their Website here. For information about TodayTix and how you can enter the many lotteries including Kinky Boots go Here. Their final performance is on 12th January 2019, so get your tickets now!