In the week that London got kinky, here’s my theatre round-up:
Kinky boots
I went to a preview of Kinky Boots last week, and basically haven’t shut up about it since (apologies to my friends, family and Twitter followers). I haven’t seen the movie, so didn’t really know what I was letting myself in for – I figured it would be good fun, but wasn’t expecting to be so totally blown away. Kinky Boots is based on real events and tells the story of Charlie Price, who teams up with new friend Lola (a.k.a. Simon) to create a range of fabulous footwear for men. With star performances from Killian Donnelly, Amy Lennox and Matt Henry, and some truly sensational dance numbers, Kinky Boots is ridiculously good fun; you can’t help but leave the theatre smiling. I already want to see it again (and then again).
Kinky Boots review for London Theatre Direct
Thoroughly Modern Millie
A lively and high-spirited revival based on the 1967 movie, in the intimate setting of the Landor theatre. Thoroughly Modern Millie is the story of a Kansas girl who arrives in 1920s New York determined to make a new life for herself by getting a job and then marrying her boss. Simple, right? Ironically, a lot of the attitudes are actually not very modern at all (and the show also features a bizarre and very un-PC sub-plot about a woman pretending to be Chinese). But the show brings to life the spirit of the 1920s, particularly during the fantastic dance numbers, which are worthy of a much bigger production, and impeccably performed by the small, hard-working cast. Credit also to the brilliant five-piece band, who were great despite being a four-piece for half the show because their bass player got stuck on the Northern Line.
Thoroughly Modern Millie review for Carn’s Theatre Passion
The Man Who Had All the Luck
Arthur Miller’s first play to be produced is a fable about a man who seems to get everything he wants in love, business and life in general. But as his friends and family all lose out on the thing they want most in the world, he starts to wonder when his own luck will change. This revival by End of Moving Walkway, to coincide with the centenary of Miller’s birth, features a strong cast, with one actor playing no fewer than four parts, and a minimalist set with a hidden secret. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking, with characters the audience can really relate to, the play invites us to consider where our luck comes from, and the role of each individual in creating our own destiny.
The Man Who Had All The Luck review for Carn’s Theatre Passion
Next week’s theatre
Jane Eyre – National Theatre
The Christians – Gate Theatre
And Then Come The Nightjars – Theatre503
Theatre Things 