Everybody say Yeah! The Ritz's Kinky Boots is Electric

by Dominic Traini

Last night I attended the Ritz Theater Company’s production of the 2013 

Tony-Award-winning Kinky Boots. When I walked into the theater I was immediately in awe of the set design by Jennifer Donsky. It made very great use of the space, making Price and Son feel grand but also immersive, bringing the audience in to be one with the actors. I also took note of the choice to play ’80s pop songs before the show, setting the tone for the score written by ’80s star Cyndi Lauper. This was just one of the countless incredible choices made by Chad Parsons, the director of this production. 

One performer I would like to note was Noah Breitenfeild who portrayed Young Charlie. His excellent stage presence wowed me, portraying talent beyond his years. His vocals and later dancing were also great. I also appreciated how similar he and Brian K. Herrick looked, making for strong continuity. They were very believably the same person, separated by many years. 

Brian K. Herrick portrayed a down on his luck Charlie Price, tasked with leading his father’s dying shoe company after his death. Through his great baritenor voice and down to earth acting, he made Charlie a very likable and empathetic character. I was particularly struck by his argument with Lola in act 2, which can often feel very out of the blue and random. Herrick masterfully portrayed Charlie’s internal struggle and heartbreak in that moment, making the scene feel raw and honest. 

Co-leading the show was the excellent VinChelle who portrayed Lola/Simon. Her commanding stage presence made Lola feel incredibly authentic, as if I were watching one of her real drag performances. I also want to highlight how wonderful it was to see an actual drag queen portraying the role, making Lola feel even more genuine and lived-in. 

The song, “Not My Father’s Son” was one of the best moments in the show, portraying such honesty and heart. The monologue before was a very nice shift in Lola’s normally loud and performative personality, giving a very nice range to the character. Part of me wished Lola and Charlie started the song sitting next to each other, Lola singing to him. So when the song grew, Lola grew as well, standing up to deliver the song to the audience. However, that is just a tiny nitpick in an otherwise beautifully heartfelt moment. 

Dustin Fife played an excellent Don, who felt like a very real person. Often when playing this role, many are too unlikable, feeling more like a super villain than a simple bigot. Fife understood this, opting to make Don a small minded “guys-guy”, someone we all know whether we like to or not. This made his later transformation and understanding of both Lola and Charlie feel very earned. His accent was also excellent. Every movement he made and expressions he had felt very down to earth and real, making Don my personal highlight of this production. 

Harry, typically portrayed by Michael Aquilino, was excellently filled in by Jonathan Frazier, who added a very down to earth and friendly flair to the character. He also sounded great in the song, making “Take What You’ve Got” a standout number in the show. Along with that, he also played his typical role of Richard Bailey as well, showing excellent range and charisma as both! 

Additional highlights included Walter Dodd, who played a lovably dorky George; Emily Colón, who wowed the audience with her incredible vocals; and the amazing Angels, played by Shaun Furter, Kevin Ray Jr., Gian Dante Verderose, and Ronnie Marie—Marie, in particular, was a standout, always bringing energy and absolutely nailing the vocals in “In This Corner.” I also want to applaud the brilliant costume design by Megan Iafolla and Ophelia Bawdy who perfectly brought Kinky Boots’ characters to life.

Rounding out the cast was the excellent Keara Fernandez as Nicola, whose wonderful chest voice wowed the audience, along with the lovable Pat (Alexia Correa), Trish (Rachel Redden), Maggie (Alexis Goode), and Marge (Abbie Gardner), who were all fun and believable, making the Price & Son factory feel real and lively. Mark Gollihur played a wise and compassionate Mr. Price, making Charlie’s lament “Soul of a Man” feel much more earned. He was also greatly contrasted by Brandon Davis, who portrayed a stern and strict Simon Sr., making the audience sympathize deeply with the sweet young Lola/Simon, played by the heartwarming Victor Jeannot. Rounding out this fun ensemble was the hysterical Rachel Grodek as the Milan Stage Manager. 

On the production design side, Benita Farmer provided masterful music direction, while the high-intensity choreography by Anthony Mauriello wowed the audience. The sound design by Matt Gallagher was also excellent, adding so much to Jennifer Donsky’s wonderful set and lighting design. 

While the accents and fight choreography impressive, I felt like the cast could have used some more time with dialect coach Mary Martello and fight director Sean McGarry to make those elements of the show as consistently strong as the rest throughout. However, this criticism pales in comparison to the heart and energy this excellent cast brings to this production as a whole. 

I urge you to go see this brilliant cast and crew in Kinky Boots, playing at the Ritz Theater until March 2nd! You can purchase tickets here: https://www.tix.com/ticket-sales/RitzTheatreCo/6520