South Valley Civic Theatre’s ‘Kinky Boots’ struts its

stuff in high-heeled hijinks

“Kinky Boots” proves to be more than just a story about shoes.

https://morganhilllife.com/2024/06/28/bounds-kinky-boots/

Published on MorganHillLife.com on June 28, 2024

The cast of South Valley Civic Theatre’s production of “Kinky Boots” goes through a dress rehearsal. Photo

South Valley Civic Theatre’s production of this Tony Award-winning musical is a laugh-out-loud fun evening

out. Featuring music by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein, it tells the true story of a

struggling shoe factory in Northampton, England, that finds new life by creating sturdy high-heeled boots for

drag performers.

Ken Christopher shines as “Charlie Price,” the reluctant heir to his father’s shoe factory. When faced with the

factory’s impending closure, Charlie finds an unlikely savior in “Lola,” a fabulous drag queen brilliantly

portrayed by Jery Rosas.

Christopher’s performance brings depth to what could have been a bland everyman role. He takes on the

character with relish, reluctantly accepting the audacious idea of jumping into a niche market to save the jobs

of his employees and the economic life of the community. But the true star of the show is Rosas. His portrayal

song “The History of Wrong Guys” that delivers a pop-rock feel with a catchy, energetic melody. A special

shout-out to the ensemble of drag queens known as “the Angels.” They bring spectacular flair and impressive

acrobatics to their scenes.

Director Whitney Pintello, making a welcome return to SVCT after co-founding Gilroy’s Pintello Comedy

Theater, keeps the show moving at a breakneck pace. Choreographer Christine Carrillo brings elements from

Broadway and West End productions, elevating the local performance to near-professional quality.

The show’s fast-paced pop/rock score features both showstopping numbers and touching ballads. One

particularly poignant moment finds Charlie and Lola reflecting on their struggles to meet their fathers’

expectations, adding depth to the characters.

While the show’s message of acceptance may be familiar, “Kinky Boots” makes it fresh and fun through its

vibrant music, enthusiastic cast, and wild choreography. As Pintello notes, the theme of embracing differences

is woven in spectacularly, without feeling heavy-handed.

I found myself thoroughly entertained by the quality of the performances, the vivacity of the staging, and the

show’s unabashed celebration of its subject matter. This production proves once again SVCT can deliver high-

“Kinky Boots” runs through July 20. For tickets and information, visit www.svct.org.

Nonprofit profile: South Valley Civic Theatre’s ‘Kinky

Boots’ is heart-warming, hilarious fun

South Valley Civic Theatre’s musical comedy show is based on true story

From left: Ken Christopher (“Charlie Price”), Katherine Ares (“Lauren”), Jery Rosas (“Lola”) in SVCT’s

of changing times.

The story revolves around “Charlie Price” (Ken Christopher) who inherits his father’s shoe factory that is the

lifeblood of the town. He soon discovers the business is in financial dire straits.

“The consequence of failure is letting go of the factory and firing all of these workers, who are not only

employees, but also essentially the people he grew up with,” Christopher said. “It’s a factory town, and

everybody is so close and so tight and so interrelated. The idea of everything falling apart motivates him to try

to find any solution to save the factory, his hometown, and his adopted family.”

Price is supported by his childhood friend, “Lauren” (Katherine Ares), a worker at the factory who rallies

behind his efforts to preserve it. Together, they come to the conclusion the factory and town must evolve to

survive, and so they begin to look for a new niche market for their shoes. Inspiration strikes in the form of a

drag queen named “Lola” (Jery Rosas).

Photo courtesy Chris Foster and Jason Leong (SVCT)

“When he first encounters Lola, they strike up a conversation,” Christopher said. “They realize that maybe,

just maybe, there is a niche market for making drag queen-style boots for men out there who are interested in

that kind of thing. Because, you know, a woman’s stiletto can’t possibly support a (large) man’s weight, so

with Charlie is fantastic.”

For Christopher, “Kinky Boots” is one of the most entertaining musicals he’s ever seen. “I’ve had the

opportunity to see it both on Broadway and in the West End,” he said. “Our choreographer, Christine Carrillo,

has heavily borrowed elements from those two productions, which is going to make this so professional and

so much fun.”

Cyndi Lauper, of 1980s pop fame, wrote the score in collaboration with author Harvey Fierstein. It is a really

fast-paced pop/rock musical that has some of the best numbers and songs found anywhere, as well as ballads

that tug at the heartstrings, Christopher promised.

Photo courtesy Chris Foster and Jason Leong (SVCT)

“In one, Charlie and Lola both are going through what it is like to not be their fathers’ sons,” he said. “Charlie

was never really able to step up and run the family’s four-generation business. For Lola, who is the main drag

queen, she could never live up to being the prize-fighter, the boxer that his/her father wanted him to be.”

Whitney Pintello directed the show. She returns to SVCT after she and her family founded Gilroy-based

sometimes it might have to do with traditional gender roles,” she said. “They weave it in in a really spectacular

way that doesn’t feel like they’re bonking you on the head with a lesson.”