Get You Wigle on
Kinky Boots
Theatre Severn
Tuesday 11th September – Saturday 14th September 2023
(Matinee 14.30 Saturday)
It must have been in the Sixties one imagines when Honor Blackman and Patrick Mc.Nee sang salaciously about Kinky Boots. It was a good forty years later in 2005 when we were met by the movie, Kinky Boots. What next for this quirky tale? A hit musical. An unusual choice of subject to write a musical about but written it was and performed to a packed house tonight in Shrewsbury’s Theatre Severn by the ever-popular theatre company, Shrewsbury's own: Get Your Wigle on.
It was interesting one might say firstly, to see how far knowledge and understanding of LBGTQ issues have changed in just the short 18 years since the movie. It is a lot. Dealing delicately as they could with a misunderstood image of what a Transvestite and what a Drag Queen was: the show weaved it way through a plethora of beautifully sang songs and ballads. With a sub text big enough to sink the Bismark! Unusual yes, and issues that one barely thinks about in these liberated times, but then question yourself.: What made our understanding and tolerance increase? The answer is shows like Kinky Boots: empowering a whole movement of people that had been scorned and ignored. Castigated vehemently in the gay hating blinkered 1960’s. Ironically it was the decade of peace, enlightenment, and love. Try telling that to the gay and trans community at the time! So the show has purpose. It raises profile.
Telling the story of Charley Price, (sensitively performed by James Broxton) and the fate of a shoe makers factory he inherits from his father. The company is in dire straits until Charley meets Drag-queen Lola. (Sublime performance from Ross Wigley) Lola turns Charley’s life around by designing Kinky Boots. The factory makes them for the niche market comprising transvestites and drag queens. The factory is saved, and a little bit of misogynistic sexism is destroyed and the victor is tolerance and understanding.
The immediate thing that strikes one during the performance is the beautiful vocal capabilities of the whole cast. The Wigles have always set the bar high, but this show hears vocals good enough for the London Stage and some that may have already been there. The level is powerful.
Ross Wigley’s direction and choreography shines as it always does. The astonishing thing about Mr. Wigley he is also performing in the scenes too. He must have a very compartmentalised way of thinking to keep in sight all three major challenges, but he does it and does it well.
One always enjoys watching James Archer, (Don) he has stage presence and a charisma that shines through. A great local talent: with a strong voice and the ability to use it well. All performers gave it their all.
Ross Wigley was also involved in the lighting plan too, that is known as the technical language. Working between washes and profile spotting it was a complex plan and Ross has done a great job.
One always loves a live orchestra, it is a thrill to hear the pit being used as it should and the sounds of the musicians, under the capable hands of Chris Lewis , were once again: top drawer.
Tonight, the audience came expecting to be entertained, they wanted to see their friends and families succeed too, this reviewer can only say they didn’t go home disappointed. In summary, an anachronistic tale but nevertheless an important tale, told with skill and talent that has of late become synonymous of this fine troupe.
This Is a Five Star Reviewer.
Sofia Lewis
Sofia is a successful playwright living in Shrewsbury. After graduating from Wolverhampton University in theatre. Sofia went on to become an actor and film maker. Her first play was published in 2015 and her plays have been seen all around the world. She is also the instigator of the popular concerts, The Sound Of Shrewsbury Folk. She has been writing with loveshrewsbury for 13 years and loves Theatre Severn and all she sees there.
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