Kinky Boots
Image: Marcus Hurley & William Manukia.
Photo: Rodney Herbert.
Rockdale Musical Society has chosen to celebrate its 80th anniversary with something a little more challenging. Kinky Boots is a production that promises to make the whole audience consider strutting their stuff down the catwalk. The company has apparently even made their own boots for the show which are already much in demand. In multiple colours too. Anyone who knows the film also knows that the story is really about all of us trying to be who we think we should be. Not about accepting society telling us who we are by putting us in a box and labelling us. As Carina Herbert, the show’s co-director said, “Love is Love and everyone deserves to be loved for who they are.”
Set in North London in the 90s Charlie has inherited his father’s shoe factory. Times are tough and the factory is losing money fast. He allows the factory to be used to manufacture cheap low-quality shoes for the mass market and Charlie, who has led quite a blinkered existence, lacks the imagination needed to update and make the changes needed to turn the business around. That is until he meets Lola. A tall, proud, confident transexual shoe designer who just happens to adore long boots. Generally in hues of pink, purple and jungle red. Lola convinces Charlie that the boots will sell and after much opposition from his factory workers the boots are made en masse and is Charlie swamped with orders.
Milan calls and Charlie is requested to have someone model his boots on the catwalk. The whole company votes for Lola to do it. At the last minute though Charlie and Lola have a terrible fallout and Charlie must model the boots himself. Charlie must change his attitude and learn that some kinds of different are completely acceptable. It is Charlie who needs to be open to change.
The world today is a very different world but the message rings just as true now. Love and tolerance make the world a better place and long kinky boots are cool.
Sep 6-15. Rockdale Town Hall, Cnr Princes Hwy & Bryant St, Rockdale. $29-$43.50+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.rockdalemusicalsociety.com
By Renee Lou Dallow
