'Kinky Boots" strikes and lights up Olney

Kinky Boots at Olney Theatre Center/DJ Corey Photography

Broadway comes to Olney...again.  

Ladies and Gentlemen of the theatre, I present to you another fabulous show at the Olney Theatre Center, based on a true tale, but this one, a "kinky" story, an unlikely story, one filled with entertainment, dancing and costumes to make your eyes pop and yearn for sunglasses.

Plus, the show's got a message. (Not that it needs one.)

Solomon Parker III is "Lola" in Kinky Boots at Olney Theatre Center/DJ Corey Photography

The glam, the dancing, and the costumes!  (Repeat) The costumes!  

Who needs a plot when you've got costumes like these?  Kendra Rai must have worked vigorously to complete them, aided by a "few" helping hands.

Harvey Fierstein has written a great book accompanied by singer/songwriter Cyndi Lauper's score.  The show won six Tonys (including the most coveted, "Best Musical") in 2013, three Laurence Olivier's (London) and the Grammy in 2017, and more.

Can all these judges be wrong?

The Angels and Solomon Parker III (center) as "Lola" in Kinky Boots 

at Olney Theatre Center/DJ  Corey Photography

I dare say, Olney must have spent more than a shoestring of its budget outfitting these "ladies" (and gentlemen) in this energetic production which, sadly, is missing from the repertoire of theatres in some states (according to director Jason Loewith in his introductory remarks on opening night) because...well, fear of the unknown, the different, those who are not like you and me, the future, and the small world goes on.

Ahem, ahim, aher, aaahhhit.   

Kinky Boots' roots stem from a family shoe factory going out of business in Northampton, England.

Market conditions and changing fashions have sent the once successful family plant into near closure until circumstances bring family member "Charlie" (Vincent Kempski) together with a drag queen, "Lola" (Solomon Parker III), whose apparel for all her "lady" friends could stand a boost with better, supportive heels, and ones that are elevated, if you please.  

Talk about serendipity!

Coaxed by an employee (Alex De Bard as "Lauren") and ding! ding! ding! circuits in Charlie's brain flash and spark the realization of the opportunity to make fancy boots, kinky boots, big boots, shiny ones, jeweled boots to showcase in an Italian shoe show.

(For those needing a definition, the Urban Dictionary defines "drag" as "someone [who] dresses in an exaggerated style, typically that of a woman." A man is called a drag queen and a woman who takes part is called a bio queen. It's a lot of fun.  Anyway...)

Yellow boots, red boots, green boots, sparklies which go up beyond the knee!  Thigh highs! Yowee!  But, back to the fine story with songs to boot.

The star is, of course, Mr. Parker who leads them all, supported by Charlie who manages ongoing side story romances with two predictable personalities, the uppity "Nicola" (Candice Shedd-Thompson) and the more down-to-earth "Lauren,"  both roles the actors capture well, vying for Charlie's attention. 

"Could it be? Could it be?" Lauren asks herself. "Is he the one?"

Mr. Loewith, the always smiling Olney artistic director, celebrates ten years at the theatre by directing this show, and I doubt he ever had so much fun. (On opening night, the show gave him specially handmade "jeweled" tennis shoes, the tennies for which Loewith is known far and wide, and what a perfect combination with the title.)

Kinky's outstanding choreographer is Tara Jeanne Vallee, assisted  by Christopher Youstra who leads the excellent orchestra of eight musicians.

Other cast members are Chris Genebach, Stephen F. Schmidt, Grayden Goldman, Dustin Sardella, Zach Cook, Karl Kippola, Kaiyla Gross, Sarah Anne Sillers, Henry Harleston, Ricardo Blagrove (also fight captain), and Calvin McCullough.

Also, Stephen Russell Murray, Catrina Brenae, Alexis Krey, and Tyrell Stanley.

And not to forget, of course, the "angels," a heavenly crew who never stop kicking up storms: Malachi Alexander, Quadry Brown, Robbie Duncan, Shane Hall (also, dance captain), Daniel Powers, Connor James Reilly, and David Singleton.

Others on the creative team are Larry Peterson who must have used a ladder to pile the wigs so high (and how did they stay in place amidst all those dance numbers?) and Leigh Wilson Smiley whose dialects convinced me everyone is British. 

Milagros Ponce de Leon is scenic designer; Max Doolittle, lighting; Matt Rowe, sound; Casey Kaleba, fight director; and Devon Vaow, drag consultant.

Also, Ben Walsh, production stage manager, and Allison Ann Bailey and Cat Moreschi, assistant stage managers.

The original Broadway production was directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell. Kinky Boots is based on the Miramax motion picture of the same name by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth.

We can change the world when we change our minds.

What: Kinky Boots 

When: Through Mar. 26, 2023 (held over!), Wednesday through Saturday nights at 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.

Where: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832.

Tickets: Start at $42 

Ages: For ages 10 and up. 

Rating:  PG-13

Masks: Optional at Thursday - Saturday performances and required on Wednesday and Sunday shows

Refreshments available which may not be taken to seats.

Parking: Free, lighted and plentiful on-site

Duration:  About 2.5 hours with one intermission

For more information: 301-924-3400 for the box office, Wed. - Sat., 12 - 6 p.m. or 301-924-4485  

patricialesli@gmail.com

Extended! Olney's 'On the Town' is merry must-sea!

 















From left, Robert Mintz (Ensemble), Lance E. Hayes (Ensemble), and Rhett Guter (Gabey) in On the Town at Olney Theatre Center/Photo: Stan Barouh 

Amidst these days (and weeks, sigh) of turmoil, conflict and depressing news, who doesn't need a fantastic escape?

On the Town at the Olney Theatre Center arrives at the right time with sets, costumes, and songs from the 1940s to make you happy.  (Well, it made me so happy, had I not been seated midway in the row, I might have bolted right up on stage and become a dancer meself!) 

 Claire Rathbun (Ivy) and Rhett Guter (Gabey) in On the Town at Olney Theatre Center/Photo: Stan Barouh

Three sailors come to New York on 24-hour leave in search of women and excitement. (You were expecting something less than romps, laughs, sex, and more?) On the Town is an hilarious trip with music, lots of dancing, and non-stop action.

The sailors set off on a journey to find THE girl whose picture Gabey (Rhett Guter) has seen plastered in advertisements, the winner of the "Miss Turnstiles" competition (huh?). Gabey has fallen in love with a photo, but never mind. Can he find her? 

And can his buddies help?  They start a hot chase.

 From left, Evan Casey (Chip), Sam Ludwig (Ozzie), Rhett Guter (Gabey), and Bobby Smith (Bill Poster) in On the Town, now playing at Olney Theatre Center/Photo: Stan Barouh

Along the way they stumble (surprise!) upon  adventure, becoming entangled in rollicking scenes with dancing and song.

Chip (Evan Casey) finds a taxi driver, Hildy (Tracey Lynn Olivera) who has lots of "fares" on her mind  (Come Up to My Place), and she can cook!

It doesn't take long for Chip, the initially reluctant participant in this scheme, to join goal tending until the couple is rudely interrupted by Hildy's conservative roommate, Lucy (Suzanne Lane), a mousy creature and dressed for the role par excellence.  (Rosemary Pardee's many 1940s costumes are rainbows of pastels and designs, adding more allure to the visuals. In real-life, Chip and Hildy are a happily married couple whose stage passions leave one in awe of the chemistry on display.)    

Then there is flash and dash Claire DeLoone (Rachel Zampelli) who teams up with Sailor #3, Ozzie (Sam Ludwig) in-between trying to placate her  "understanding" husband (Bobby Smith in one of seven (!) roles he plays). 

The show has many standouts, and my favorites were those with multiple roles, perhaps because they were on stage more often:  Bobby who, towards the end, makes you happy seeing him appear since you know guffaws lie ahead, "darling," and Donna Migliaccio, 
fresh from a real-life stage in New York, and her six (!) roles here. (My fav was the old lady and her mannerisms and "Style 7" walking, but where is a grumpy old man?)
 
Perhaps the elevations and descents of various entertainers center stage doing their solo performances are a bit overdone, and the lacklustre title really needs some work, but director Jason Loewith, Olney's artistic director, commands excellent performances of all, and never a dull moment passes by.   

The numerous scenes (by Court Watson) transform in a whirl, and what appears to be minimalist props are deceptive for scenes are mean to complement, not distract from the script.

The effects and Roc Lee's sounds magnify the  "New York, New York" experience with brakes screeching, horns going off and subway rides which sway and lurch, rocking passengers forwards, sideways, and into others. 

Live music always makes a more enjoyable performance and Christopher Youstra's baton enriches the show with the big band sounds of 14 musicians onstage playing 17 instruments, the largest orchestra in Olney's history. (None of the vocalists are ever drowned out.)

Choreography by Tara Jean Vallee is stunning, and at times I found myself labeling it a "musical ballet," and it was based on Jerome Robbins' ballet,  Fancy Free. 
 
Claire Rathbun's skill as a ballerina (formerly with the Washington Ballet) is apparent in her role as Ivy, "Miss Turnstiles," particularly during the deux pars de deux when she and Gabey dance elegantly back to back, gliding across the floor, hugging stage corners and "ignorant" of the other's presence while the ensemble enters the stage from right, from left, to mingle and spin a partner, logistics which prevent "the" couple from ever laying eyes on each another.
      
From stem to stern, this is another shipshape production for the regional celebration of Leonard Bernstein's 100th birthday in Olney's 80th season (and Director Loewith's 50th) which continues to strengthen the theatre's reputation as a delightful locale for live entertainment. 

It's just another 24-hour day.  Whatcha gonna do with yours?  Tempus fugit.

Rounding out the cast are Ian Anthony Coleman, Ashleigh King, Amanda Kaplan, Claire Rathbun, Alan Naylor, Connor James Reilly, Shawna Walker, Jennifer Flohr, Lance E. Hayes, Robert Mintz (also, dance captain), Ron Tal, Taylor J. Washington, Ronald Bruce, and Emily Madden.

Other members of the creative team are Colin K. Bills, lighting; Alexandra Pohanka, wigs and hair; Zach Campion, dialects; John Keith Hall, production stage manager; Dennis A. Blackledge, production; and Debbie Ellinghaus, managing director. 

What: On the Town with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics, Betty Comden and Adolph Green
 
Where: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832.
 
When: Extended! Now through July 29, 2018, Wednesday through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., Wednesday matinees July 11 and July 18 at 2 p.m., a sign-interpreted performance Thursday, July 12 at 8 p.m., and an audio-described performance, Thursday, July 19 at 8 p.m. There is no performance Saturday night, July 28.

.

Talkbacks:  After matinees, July 7, July 14, July 21 

Tickets: Begin at $42 with discounts for groups, seniors, military, and students.

Ages: Recommended for ages 11+ due to mild sexuality. The Olney rates it "PG."

Duration: Two hours and one 15 minute intermission

Refreshments: Available and may be taken to seats

Parking: Free and plentiful on-site

For more information: 301-924-3400 for the box office or 301-924-4485

patricialesli@gmail.com