Kinky Boots Chicago previews? — Page 2

pc1145N2 - I saw Bruce there as well. I assume you were there on Sat. night?

Owen - I definitely hear you on that rather sudden shift of Charlie's character in Act II. I sorta see where they were going with it--stress building to save the factory/jobs that he lashes out--but it's not quite there to lead into Soul of a Man. I thought the beginning of Act I can be rather brilliant, it just they blasted through opening plot points to get the show going...maybe an opening number that is able to accommodate his growing up and what happened to his father in a way that feels earned.

I didn't mind Stark Sands as others...but I mean Charlie as written can't stand up to Lola, especially as played by Billy Porter who is commanding the stage. Punching up Charlie may help Sands rise to the occasion.

I definitely want to see this near the end of the run to see if it grows in the next month. I'll say again, I think the show can be a big hit, a few bold choices can really help.

PC, yes, as in the film he lashes out at the factory workers out of stress, but that point is redeemed in the film. In the show they try to use that also as the impetus to hurt Lola and it is SO not enough. Its too ugly and extreme to come out of stress, unless the character is truly vile. As I noted in the film, he's already feeling emasculated in that moment and then having this man in a dress sit down next to him, as mean at it is, it's reasonable. I fear they might think "Soul of a Man" is a good song and are trying to mold the book to save and keep the song instead of the other way around.

its against matilda. Matilda has a lot of press and awards. Anyone think this is npt going to last

I'm disappointed to hear that Stark Sands is bland. I've really enjoyed his past performances and was excited to see him finally get to lead a production. I still am excited, though, and I have faith he'll get stronger!

he was good in american idiot

No disrespect to the actress (because she is great in the role), but I think what this show needs to do is get rid of the fiancee character. The way they dress her and from her opening lines you know they are not going to end up together (and frankly you don't want them to) - she is basically dressed like the fiance in Legal Blonde.

(spoiler alert)
But more than than - it takes some of the potential from Charlie's character. He would be much more interesting if HE wanted to leave the small town and craved "upward mobility", if he found about the "deal" his dad made directly from the real estate agent - this could lead to a great scene and a more logical place for Soul of a Man. The break-up is pretty meaningless because you never really like her - also the bit with the red shoes never goes nowhere. This would also provide more stage time for the other female role and bring more focus to the "platonic" love story between Lola and Charlie.

(the alternative is to get rid of the other female role and make Charlie and fiance really in love - change her wig - and add scenes of Charlie really trying to make this work and failing, maybe as the factory is succeeding. But this seems like too much at this point).

The other big change they need to make is to move this baby to a US setting - a la Full Monty. I think this show can resonate with a A LOT of tourists from towns in the US that revolve around ONE company supporting much of the population, the recent recession and finally, give the US audience a sense of orientation - how far are the different towns from each other, are they really conservative? The shop can be in New Rochelle, the club in NYC and the fashion show in Hollywood, for example.

Finally, as fun as it is, they need to get rid of the boxing match - it goes nowhere and they should be spending those 10 minutes explaining why Charlie is so stressed, the stakes of the fashion show, why things are not as cheery as they where when the curtain went down in Act 1., etc.).

Just some thoughts. I am excited to see this show again next week and see what has changed.

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Updated On: 10/7/12 at 11:03 PM

they should "re-imagine" the boxing match as a club number. It's confusing why one of the "girls" is on the other guy's side.

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I was wondering the same thing re: orch. Stephen Oremus is out there at the helm, but I'd like to know who is in the pit as well.

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Getting rid of the fiance altogether is a FANTASTIC idea.

The wrestling match replaces an arm wrestling match from the film. Obviously a wrestling match is more physical and musical number friendly. It also makes sense as Lola was trained and worked as a prize-fighter (which oddly, was also taken from the film). And that sort of physical manly confrontation is needed for Dan Sherman's homophobic Don to come to respect Lola, thusly allowing him to help redeem Charlie when he is being an ass to the workers. Unfortunately, as noted, Charlie goes beyond redemption as the show is adapted now. But the match IS necessary for the deal Don and Lola make. These moments are so lovely in the film but just missing it in the stage show.

One of the reasons they kept the show in Northampton is that it's based on a true story. The film is actually dedicated to the Workers of the real Kinky Boots factory. I can't say if it was the right choice, but they are trying to honor the story by keeping it in its true-life original environment.

Updated On: 4/7/13 at 12:55 PM

"By contrast Billy Porter literally steals the show from him. "

He steals the show, literally? Where does he hide it?

I hope some clips from this are released--all the reports are fascinating.

^ I thought the same thing, maybe Stark is just the perfect everyman like Joel Edgerton was in the film, you always expect the Lola character to be more overwhelming no?