Quinn Forrest Masterson, Mitchell Douglas and Cast Photo by Molly Weibel

In addition to Lauper's score, the show has a great book by Harvey Fierstein. The text is chock-full of witty dialogue and comical situations, but in balance with a tender story of two men from different worlds who find they have more in common than meets the eye, ending up in an unlikely friendship and partnership. Charlie Price was raised by his father with the expectation that he will someday take over the family's men's shoe manufacturing business, Price & Son. However, Charlie has always had a fierce desire to leave backwater Northampton for something else, even if he doesn't know what or where that something else is. His upward climbing fiancée, Nicola, fills that void, deciding that they will move to a stylish flat in London and Charlie will work in the marketing firm where she is employed.

Charlie is thrown for a huge loop when he inherits the shoe factory and finds that it is hopelessly in debt. Low-cost foreign imports have left their well-made but costly shoes without a market. He sees little choice but to shut down the plant, leaving its workers unemployed. Then he crosses paths in London with Lola, a sophisticated Black drag queen who needs high-heeled shoes that can support her frame without sacrificing sex appeal. One of the factory employees, Lauren, lights a spark in Charlie: if Price & Sons can't sell traditional shoes, can't they find a niche market in which to specialize? What could be more specialized than women's heels strong enough to support a strapping man? Charlie and Lola strike a deal.

While this story may sound far-fetched, it is actually based on truth. In the 1980s, a particularly rough patch for the British economy, an Englishman named Steve Pateman was struggling to save his family-run show factory and decided to produce women's footwear to be worn by men, under the brand name "Divine Footwear." A television show featured this story, which inspired the 2005 movie. The true story does not have a Lola-like character, but Kinky Boots is immeasurably more interesting thanks to her presence.

The role of Lola is a bonanza for an actor–Billy Porter soared to stardom after winning the Tony Award for his performance on Broadway–and in Mitchell Douglass, Lyric Arts has an actor who fabulously fills Lola's boots. Douglass has had a number of supporting and ensemble roles in local productions, but this appears to be his first starring role and he knocks it out of the park. He delivers Lola's sultry voice and sensuous movement, her sharp wit, and a domineering presence that makes her larger than life, but also conveys the insecurities and painful history that always travel with her, including the knowledge that she, like Charlie, disappointed her father by living as the person she was meant to be. Douglas is in full command of numbers such as "Sex Is in the Heel," "What a Woman Wants," and "Hold Me in Your Heart."

While not as showy, the role of Charlie Price is also a plum, given the young man's journey from a malcontent son whose life choices are based on what he doesn't want, without knowing what he does want, to recognizing his responsibility for others and discovering both professional and personal fulfillment where he least expected it. Erik Speegle is phenomenal as Charlie, persuasively depicting the character's growth and possessing a fabulous voice, bringing down the house with his delivery of "Soul of a Man." Speegle and Douglas sing beautifully together and cement their characters' friendship on the poignant "Not My Father's Son."

These two leading roles get top-grade support from the rest of the cast, in particular Grace Hillmyer as Lauren, with a chance to shine on "The History of Wrong Guys," Waverly Ann McCollum as Nicola, and Quinn Forrest Masterson as Don, the factory foreman whose sense of masculinity is challenged by the presence of a drag queen on the premises. Cody Dahlson, James Grace, Jonathan P. Haller, Jaden Jackson, Cris Sanchez, and Riley Webster are the six "Angels" who back Lola up in her act. Each brings their own personality to the stage. Collectively, they lift the show's already high merriment quotient even higher.

Director Vanessa Brooke Agnes has a clear-eyed fix on the nuggets of truth within the show and the elements that offer sheer entertainment, and she enables the show to simultaneously succeed in conveying both. Jaclyn McDonald's energetic choreography brings additional verve and joy to the stage, and the score is performed with brio by a nine-piece orchestra led by music director Anna Murphy. A boxing match is ingeniously staged, with fight director H Ashley calling the shots. Choreography, musicianship, costumes and the high-spirited cast converge for "Raise You Up/Just Be," one of the most genuinely joyful finales to be found in any show, on par with Hairspray's "Can't Stop the Beat."

The stage is fully taken up by Chad Van Kekerix's design depicting the Price & Sons factory, with a raised bridge for the office looking down on the factory floor. Simple rearrangements transform the space into the club where Lola performs, Charlie and Nicola's London flat, and a fashion show in Milan. Eleanor Schanilec has smartly dressed all of the characters, from factory drab to drag queen flamboyant, with a delicious assist from wig designer Miss Ava Cado.

Over the years, I have been impressed by Lyric Arts' continual reach for more challenging plays and bigger shows. Casting, staging, and production values have consistently been worthy of praise. In the case of Kinky Boots, the choice of material dovetails well with the fact that last month the city of Anoka held its first ever Pride Month event. Kinky Boots punctuates this step forward, for the show is, at its heart, a celebration of acceptance of the wide range of humanity, in all of our colors, genders, and footwear preferences. This is definitely a winner.

Kinky Boots runs through August 11, 2024, at Lyric Arts Main Street Stage, 420 East Main Street, Anoka MN. For tickets and information, please call 763-422-1838 or visit lyricarts.org.

Book: Harvey Fierstein; Music and Lyrics: Cyndi Lauper; Director: Vanessa Brooke Agnes; Assistant Director and Dramaturg: Alex Church; Music Director: Anna Murphy; Choreographer: Jaclyn McDonald; Scenic Design: Chad Van Kekerix; Costume Design: Eleanor Schanilec; Lighting Design: Shannon Elliot; Sound Design: Paul Estby; Props Design: Vicky Erickson; Wig Design: Miss Ava Cado; Nail Design: Chris Esparza; Intimacy & Fight Director: H Ashley; Dialect Coach: Gillian Constable; Drag Consultant: Cam Pederson: Stage Manager: Grace Czywczynski; Assistant Stage Manager: Laura Felde.

Cast: Bridget Benson (swing), Danielle Birmingham (Trish/ensemble), Daze Bishop (George/ensemble), Mathias Brinda (Young Lola), Cody Dahlson (Angel), Mitchell Douglas (Lola), James Grace (Angel), Johnathan P. Haller (Angel), Gracy Hillmyer (Lauren), Javari Mytae Horne (ensemble), Jaden Jackson (Angel), Theo Janke-Furman (Richard), Alexhannah Joson (ensemble), Collin Krieger (Harry), Eric Lee (Mr. Price/ensemble), Quinn Forrest Masterson (Don), Waverly Ann McCollum (Nicola), Alexis Neumann (Pat/ensemble), Gideon Reilly (Young Charlie), France A. Roberts (Simon Sr./ensemble), Cris Sanchez (Angel), Erik Speegle (Charlie), Luis Ventura (swing), Riley Webster (Angel).