Sturdy ‘Kinky Boots’ Inspires at Silhouette Stages

Joshua Franklin as Lola and Xander Conte as Charlie

The production of Kinky Boots at Silhouette Stages in Columbia, Md. could not have come at a better time. Relentless withering attacks by the Trump Administration against the LGBTQ+ communities, especially the transgender population, has caused fear and anxiety among these folks and allies nationwide.

“Kinky Boots is a show about just being yourself and never letting anyone tell you who you ought to be,” Silhouette Stages explained in an email statement. “We welcome you to come to the theater dressed however you feel comfortable, whether that means in drag, casual clothing, pajamas, pride gear, wigs, and anything in between!”

This display of affirmation of the LGBTQ+ communities is aimed particularly at youth who may be struggling with their sexual orientation or gender identity. The good people associated with Silhouette Stages, which is celebrating its 20^th anniversary season, should be commended for their support, and in doing do, they are offering a musical with an abundance of heart and elite-level performances.

Under the direction of Jeremy Goldman, the cast and crew deliver an astounding presentation that is both cohesive and beautiful. Profoundly superb staging, costuming, sound, lighting, and musical direction are blended with near perfection to augment the performances from the talented cast. The production features the jaw-dropping theatrical debut of Joshua Franklin as Lola/Simon and the wide range of talent displayed by Xander Conte as Charlie. They are the focus of the plot.

In Kinky Boots there are poignant and inspirational moments that go right to your heart, and one cannot help reflecting on current events. But there are also instances where you will laugh until your shoes fall off.

"...a musical with an abundance of heart and elite-level performances."

The set designed by Sammy Jungwirth is functional, eye-catching and captures the essence of a working-class British shoe factory. Plenty of lumber is used to create warehouse-type shelving and other pieces of furniture and props used in the manufacture of the product. Kudos to the members of the construction team for their efforts in this regard.

This sturdy set is the centerpiece for the show, and because of its magnitude, the already cozy stage
must be efficiently used. Jeremy A. McShan’s imaginative and precise choreography is particularly commendable given the relatively small space the performers are asked to move about.  And some of these moves consisted of cartwheels! Big splashy production numbers with many adorning eye-popping costumes, make-up and wigs add fire power to an already electric production.

Kinky Boots with music and lyrics by pop music icon Cyndi Lauper and book by Harvey Fierstein topped the 2013 field by receiving 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical among 13 nominations.  Lauper’s “Sex is in the Heel” in the first act is a showstopper in its own right; “Everybody Say Yeah,” a stirring song that brings down the act’s curtain, matches it.  The second act’s “In This Corner,” a well-staged boxing scene and a pivotal part of the storyline, also shines. And the musical’s rousing finale “Raise You Up/Just Be” hits the emotional and inspirational target.

Xander Conte as Charlie and the Ensemble

Based on the 2005 film Kinky Boots, which was inspired by a true story, the musical tells of a near-bankrupt British shoe factory’s owner, Charlie Price (Xander Conte) who had inherited the business from his father.  He forms an unlikely partnership with a drag queen named Lola whose actual name is Simon (Joshua Franklin) to save the business. Charlie develops a plan to address the “underserved niche market” by producing custom footwear for drag queens to support a man’s weight, rather than the men’s dress shoes that his firm is known for. In the process, he and Lola bond and discover that they have a lot more in common than originally thought.

Mr. Fierstein, in penning the book, brings to the fore an impressive body of work where he has written about or performed as a drag queen (Torch Song Trilogy, La Cage Aux Folles, Hairspray).  And like these others, Kinky Boots excels in its touching, uplifting message with a strong infusion of humanity. Its overarching themes, such as “Just Be,” center on parental expectations, battling prejudice and stereotypes, and the need for open-mindedness.

With the setting in an economically struggling British factory town, Kinky Boots is similar to other Broadway musicals like Billy Elliot the Musical and The Full Monty.

Versatile Xander Conte, who was the exceptional lead in Silhouette Stages’ production of The Wedding Singer two years ago turns in another scintillating performance as Charlie who clumsily attempts to save the factory, manages his skeptical workers, balancing his desire to save the factory with his romantic life and overcoming his initial resistance to Lola’s world to eventually see the light.

This is a demanding role, and Mr. Conte rises to the occasion by displaying outstanding acting skills and vocal prowess as well as physicality.  These attributes are on display in the snappy song “Step One”—whereby Charlie invites Lola to the factory to design a boot for a “niche market”—and in particular, the moving “Soul of a Man” as he copes with the legacy of his father. He hits those challenging big notes out of the park.

In a tour de force, Joshua Franklin sparkles as the drag queen headliner Lola. It is inconceivable that Mr. Franklin had never performed in theatre before as he is so poised and polished.

Summoning up potent acting skills, Mr. Franklin convincingly displays a wide range of emotions from high camp to melancholy with the right amount of sass and attitude. His powerful voice does justice to the beautiful score in “The Land of Lola” where he performs with his excellent backup troupe of drag dancers, the Angels, and the tender ballad “Hold Me in Your Heart,” which he sings to his wheelchair-bound father, Simon, Sr. (Elijah Davis), who did not approve of his son’s world.

But the most moving of all, “Not My Father’s Son,” in which Mr. Franklin ultimately forms a duet with Mr. Conte is my favorite.  Though they tried to be like their fathers, Simon and Charlie felt the sting from their falling short of their fathers’ expectations. That formed the bonding of the two disparate men.  The stunningly emotional lyrics resonate with all those who felt they let their parents down in some way but were determined to live their lives for themselves:

“So I jumped in my dreams and found an escape
maybe I went to extremes of leather and lace,
but the world seems brighter six inches off the ground
and the air seemed lighter
I was profound and I felt so proud
just to live out loud.”

Joshua Frankin as Lola; The Angels
 (Seth Fallon, Leon Nguyen, Julie Mimms
and Thomas Allen)

The entire ensemble is excellent in support of the leads.  Most notable among them include Chris Riehl as factory worker Don, a boorish, testosterone-oozing antagonist to Lola and Cera Baker as Lauren, also a factory worker and potential love interest for Charlie. (Maddie Ervin will play the role March 14, 15 and 16).  If anyone may have forgotten that Cyndi Lauper had written the score, Ms. Baker’s well executed performance in “The History of Wrong Guys” complete with the snarl facial expression would be a good reminder.

Erica Miller as Nicola, Charlie’s girlfriend who dumped him, played the role well. Amy Haynes Rapnicki as Pat, Tricia Anderson as Trish, Henry Cyr as Harry/Richard Bailey and MarQuis Fair as George also shine.

The other members of the cast not previously mentioned include Keith Field, Will Hertz, McKenley Barnes, Angie Townsend and Neal Townsend. Playing in the Ensemble as factory workers are Dance Captain Maddie Ervin, Coby Kay Callahan, Madison Clay, Chris Draghi, Alex Gubler, Terin Kelsey and Zen Tabligan.

Then there are The Angels. Donning brilliant attire, their singing talents and wonderfully energetic dancing add much flair to the production. Applause goes to Seth Fallon, Leon Nguyen, Thomas Allen and Julie Mimms.

Costume designers Jeremy Goldman, Ande Kolp and Debbie Mobley fit the non-drag cast in basic working-class attire. Joshua Franklin (Lola) and Seth Fallon, Leon Nguyen, Thomas Allen and Julie Mimms (the aforementioned Angels) designed the colorful satiny gowns for Lola and The Angels in a variety of bright colorful costumes highlighted by those gorgeous boots! And for good measure, they all designed their own vivid make-up.

You will get a kick out of Kinky Boots.  The score, the storyline, and the uplifting message provide persuasive reasons alone to buy tickets to the show and deserving of the raucous standing ovation at the final curtain. You will also experience the debut of an emerging star in Joshua Franklin and the solid performances of Xander Conte and the rest of the talented and enthusiastic cast to boot. This is community theatre at its best.

Running time. Two hours and 30 minutes with an intermission.

Kinky Boots plays through March 23 on weekends with matinees at 2:00 p.m. and evening performances at 8:00 p.m. at the Slayton House Theatre, 10400 Cross Fox Ln., Columbia, MD 21044. For tickets, call 410-730-3987 visit online.

Photos: Shealyn Jae Photography

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Silhouette Stages has partnered with Soles4Souls  - an organization that resells your gently used shoes creating jobs and helping people start and grow businesses. Together they are helping turn your old shoes into opportunities for everyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity or nationality to ensure they have access to a better life. There will be a donation box in the lobby at all performances.