BWW Reviews: KINKY BOOTS at Shea's Buffalo Theatre

Steven Booth was Charlie, the shoe maker's son who is torn between abandoning the family business for a life in London with his overbearing fiancée. Not as well respected as his father, Charlie is the quiet nerd who takes the length of the show to develop into a powerful boss. Booth's singing voice was on the light side, but bloomed as the evening progressed. Booth and Ghee developed great chemistry as each ultimately learned of the others plight. Charlie's unfamiliarity with drag queens and transvestites, causing him to slip up and call them "trans-veterans" was as funny as Lola's unfamiliarity with how to dress as a man working in a shoe factory. Their duet "Not My Father's Son" was poignant and leant the necessary drama to understand how this union and friendship was needed by both men.

Lindsay Nicole Chambers was Lauren, the factory worker with a secret crush on Charlie. In one of the funniest numbers in the show, "The History of Wrong Guys," Chambers proved to be a great physical comedian full of tics and self deprecating humor. She had the audience in stitches as the underdog who goes on to win the boy. Joe Coots (Don) was the "man's-man" of the factory who takes on the effeminate Lola. His taunting of Lola ends up in a challenge-- a boxing match. Yes, the drag queen boxes with the bully! The outcome decides the ultimate fate of the factory. Coots was perfectly cast and was a force to be reckoned with. With Lola's 6 drag queens in tow, known as the Angels, this impressive group of men were put through their paces executing Mitchell's detailed choreography flawlessly. They amusingly served as the MC's and cheerleaders during the onstage boxing match, "In This Corner."

The ever talented Costume Designer Gregg Barnes spared no expense in his TONY nominated costume designs, most impressively for Lola's many costumes and the Angels over the top drag outfits- not to mention the now iconic design of those red Kinky Boots that are part of the show's logo.

The finale on a runway in Milan ties up the evening neatly and the fashion show that ensues brings on the entire cast, including the factory bullies, Don and his posse, in full thigh high Kinky Boots in every color of the rainbow. "Raise You Up/Just Be" was infectious and the audience was in full agreement in it's acceptance of the factory workers and drag queens new alliance.

KINKY BOOTS plays at Shea's Buffalo Theatre from April 21-26, 2015. For tickets (from $33 - $83), call 1-800-745-3000, go to www.ticketmaster.com or the Shea's Ticket Office, 650 Main Street, Buffalo. Information: www.sheas.org

Performances are Tues. - Thurs. at 7:30 p.m., Fri. at 8 p.m., Sat. at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.