Review: Kinky Boots at the Palace Theatre in Manchester
A glorious musical celebration of diversity, equity and inclusion
Strictly Come Dancing's Johannes Radebe and rising star Dan Partridge head the cast of a new touring production of Kinky Boots
Few of the professionals on Strictly Come Dancing ooze the kind of star power and charisma demonstrated by the incredible Johannes Radebe.
So it comes as no surprise to discover he has been able to translate those qualities to the arena of musical theatre by making his acting debut in a new touring production of Kinky Boots, based on the 2005 British film co-written by Frodsham's own Tim Firth.
He wasn't even upstaged on the opening night of the run at Manchester's Palace Theatre by the presence of the legendary Cyndi Lauper - who wrote all the music and lyrics for the show and made a welcome appearance on stage at the end when the cast were taking their bows.
But even Radabe's biggest fans will not be prepared for just how absolutely fabulous he is as drag queen Lola who is unexpectedly and not a little reluctantly uprooted from the London club scene and recruited to become the saviour of a Northampton based family shoe-making company!
Radebe is the bright burning centre of this production's universe who effortlessly triumphs in his character's most outrageous moments but also manages to convey the hurt and pain of growing up under the influence of a father who never understood him only to discover the rest of society didn't either.
What's more, if you have only ever seen this extraordinary talent on Strictly, you are likely to be as impressed as I was to find out what an astonishingly good singer he turns out to be as well.
Dan Partridge and Johannes Radebe in rehearsals for Kinky Boots. Picture: Marc Brenner
If Radebe was the only performer worth watching in the entire show, it would remain unmissable - but he isn't.
Having the thankless task of co-starring alongside this breathtaking force of nature is rising musical theatre artist Dan Partridge as Charlie Price, the heir to the aforementioned shoe factory who has turned his back on the family firm and headed for London with his fiance only to be dragged back to Northampton when his father dies, leaving the business on the verge of collapse.
Partridge is a powerful and appealing presence on stage and admirably handles the humour, drama, heartbreak and anger which are all required as Charlie attempts the seemingly impossible task of transforming the company's primary product from pedestrian if well-made shoes to the glitzy kinky boots of the title.
Johannes Radebe and Dan Partridge in rehearsals for Kinky Boots. Picture: Marc Brenner
But as good as both these performers might be by themselves, there is real chemistry in the way they work as a team and the development of their friendship and mutual dependency is delivered with impressive conviction.
The rapturous reception which greeted Lauper's surprise appearance at the end was no doubt due in part to the fact we had just spent two and a half hours listening to the outstanding collection of songs she came up with for this adaptation.
From the explosive introduction of Radebe belting out The Land of Lola accompanied by his magnificent chorus of drag queens (who were amazing throughout) to the show-stopping factory floor production number Sex Is In The Heel by way of Everybody Say Yeah which closes the first half and the double header of Raise You Up and Just Be which bring the story to a spectacular climax, it could be argued Lauper has produced the best work of her illustrious career.
That impression is consolidated with the solo performances by the two main performers with Partridge wringing every ounce of emotion from the pulse-racing ballad Soul of a Man followed by Radebe going full Whitney with Hold Me In Your Heart.
Director Nikolai Foster in rehearsals for Kinky Boots. Picture: Marc Brenner
Director Nikolai Foster handles the various shifts in tone with the expertise one might expect from one of the most important figures in British musical theatre while an enviable supporting cast packed with acting, singing and dancing titans make the most of every moment they get to step into the spotlight.
Cast members from the touring production of Kinky Boots
The show is a glorious celebration of diversity, equity and inclusion and my goodness, do we desperately need something like this right now.
Kinky Boots can be seen at the Palace Theatre in Manchester until Saturday, February 8.
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