I have to disagree with CapnHook. It was by no means terrible, but I didn't find it very good either. The main issue is that it's so damn derivative of a handful of shows that I felt like I was watching a paint-by-numbers generic show.
Kinky Boots is basically Billy Elliot with generous portions of Full Monty and La Cage, with just a dash of Priscilla at the end.
The show starts out like Bonnie & Clyde though: the two leads are played by younger selves to give us a glimpse into their childhoods. Young Billy Porter is just like Billy Elliot and his friend Michael. He is being forced to take boxing lessons when he'd really rather being wearing women's shoes. Young Stark Sands is being groomed to take over the family business. The opening number has very repetitive lyrics, but is energetic.
Stark grows up and has a fiancee. She's a total shrew (of course), and we're given no indication of what he ever saw in her. This is convenient so we can root for the girl who really likes him, played by Annaleigh Ashford. I wonder which of these women Stark is going to end up with...
Enter Billy Porter as Zaza, I mean Lola, who is about to perform a number with her Cagelles a la Sally Bowles. She sings two non-plot numbers in a row (Don't Tell Mama and Mein Herr) with the girls and has some fun with the audience. These songs are fun pop tunes, but really do nothing to advance the show along.
A big problem thus far is that almost zero conflict has arisen, and indeed the entire show is essentially conflict free. When minor issues do come up they are quickly solved and prove to be rather inconsequential.
Stark then sings a song called "Step One" which I SWEAR is a One Direction song. Stark has inherited his father's struggling shoe factory. He fears it will have to close down, but he realizes he could save it by making boots for drag queens and take advantage of the niche market. This is mid-way through act one and that pretty much does it for the plot.
Porter gets a big "I'm Telling you I Am What I Am and I. Am. Chaaaaaaaaaaaanging!" number at the end; it did receive extremely enthusiastic response, but I didn't think it was that well-written of song, even if he did perform it very well.
The best song was near the end of act one. It was a simple and sweet ballad Porter sang about his relationship with his father. It wasn't overblown and let us see another side to Lola that had previously been all flash and surface. (Unfortunately the cue line about Porter's homophobic father had to do with him getting lung cancer- I guess fags really did get him in the end.)
The saving grace for me were the performances. Annaleigh is fun and winning in her only solo. Stark got stronger as the night went on and vocally was perfect. Porter steals the show works his costumes and wigs like no other. He is giving a fantastic performance, even if I didn't care that much for the material. I think he'll be a strong contender for the Tony actually. He's kind of like Norbert was in Catch Me If You Can. He sizzles up the stage and walks away with everything he can.
The music is very Top 40, which works better for Lola than the other characters, and the melodies are all pleasant and hummable. The lyrics are often vague and not character specific, but never make you cringe either.
The sets and costumes looked expensive. Everything was very polished and professional. It is a very respectable production, but I didn't go nuts for it at all.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
