Let's Talk About Kinky Boots
One evening when I was performing in Kinky Boots at the John W. Engeman Theatre in Long Island, a passionate audience member loudly exclaimed: “transphobe” during the Act II factory fight between Charlie and well, just about everyone. Without giving away too many spoilers, during the final build of this scene Charlie uses some very choice words with Lola. There’s tension. Definitely moments of silence. Gasps of shock. At the climax of Charlie & Lola’s argument, my cast mates and I so clearly hear an audience member yell “transphobe”.
One of my favorite things about theatre is the viceral reaction live performance can sometimes invoke. Most of the time, audience participation doesn’t bother me. It actually helps me do my job as an actor. In this particular case, the timing was a tad unfortunate because it took away from the scene, however, point made by this passionate audience member. Charlie was definitely not showing the best of his character.
After this show and beyond, my cast mates and I had several conversations about whether the book of Kinky Boots needs a rewrite, especially considering the rate in which the show is being put up across the country. The various perspectives I heard during these conversations were intriguing, so I decided to create a Google Form where people could share their thoughts and opinions more fully. There were 12 people who filled out the Google Form, most being actors/performers who have either seen or performed in the show. Here’s what I learned…
Does the book for Kinky Boots need a re-write?
“I think for the most part it’s fine.”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“Slight edits would make the show more politically correct by today’s standards.”
“Maybe. Some of the language is outdated, but one could argue that it’s a period piece that uses the language of the time period.”
“I don't think it NEEDS a re-write, but there are certainly some inconsistencies that could be rectified. I think it could use tweaks, for sure, if not a full-scale re-write.”
If you answered yes to the question above, please elaborate on why you believe Kinky Boots needs a rewrite.
“I think some of the gendered language can be perceived as harmful. Specifically jokes about transgentries etc. I think those jokes could be taken out and the show would still have its charm. Overall I think the book is fitting for its time, but to keep it modern cleaning up some of the jokes could make it timeless. Charlie is high key problematic and is pretty much a bully the whole show until the last moments, but I don’t know how that can be changed while keeping the tone of the show.”
“There are a few lines that are not fully accepting of the trans community, which goes against one of the main themes in the show… “just be who you wanna be”. This irony should definitely be addressed. In my view it’s nothing more than a couple of quick easy changes. Nothing crazy at all. As long as the shows words reflect an acceptance of all types of people than it is golden.”
“Honey first of all why is everything screlted in the rafters? It’s unnecessary and unhealthy. Why everything gotta be so hiiiiigh and belted (when truly it’s never belted because who could sustain that without destroying their voice). Two - Give Nicola her song back. I don’t care - this is currently an incomplete narrative. Bring it in! Fix it Lord. Three - in general just update some of these joke references and punchlines cuz some are just 👀 while others are still pretty powerful and make a statement.” [This response made me laugh out loud haha! If you’ve done the show, you know how HIGH it is.]
“Transgentries” is problematic for many reasons and insulting to the Trans community. Also, “ladies and gentleman…and those who’ve yet to make up their minds” implies that your gender and sexual identity is something you can flippantly choose and change as opposed to what and what you are born as. All this to say, I am a cisgendered straight woman who truly can’t speak on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ community. I can only express these feelings that were shared with me by members of the cast.”
“I think it’s dependent on whether you think Lola needs to be fleshed out more that she currently is. As she is in the words on the page at the moment, she’s a drag queen with some small statements of ambivalence about sexuality. I personally do feel the character has possibly been written like that as a product of the time and to get this show to a mainstream American Broadway audience. Personally, I kind of enjoy the sexual ambiguity that Lola has been written with. So what if she’s interested in men, or women, or both. That’s not ultimately the point, and I feel casting has a larger part to do with that particular aspect of who Lola is. But as she’s written from the scripts point of view, she’s complex for sure. I understand that people may want her to exist as trans or non-binary, but can that not be something that’s reflected in very casting of the actor, the actors presence, and performance in the piece. If there’s specific text that counteracts that’s persons existence in the part, then I definitely understand a need to change it (just like changing gender pronouns in every Shakespeare since the 70s). But if the text doesn’t preclude someone from playing it, then I guess it’s about creative vision and whether an actor wants to conform to the overall vision of the creative team. The lines about “a range of men” can definitely be changed to people. Easy one there. I think personally if anything needs a rewrite, they could make Charlie less of an arse-hat. Maybe a minor character. Or maybe like make Lauren the main character and it’s a show about Lauren going to a drag show with the girls from the factory, gets called up on stage by Lola after she’s stacked it and broken a heel, has a brillant idea, takes it to the new boss of the factory who’s completely incompetent and flirting with her while he’s engaged (see, arse-hat), then Lola and Lauren end up saving the company with their new boots, Charlie loses the factory and Lauren’s the new CEO and hires Lola to design forever. They all live happily ever after because Charlie and Don get it on too. Feel free to pass my number to Harvey if he needs help.”
Here’s What I Think…
I saw Kinky Boots for the first time in 2016 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. I saw it for a second time on Broadway in 2018. I performed in Kinky Boots in 2021 and 2022. I will be seeing Kinky Boots for a 3rd time, Off-Broadway at Stage 42. I think it’s safe to say I know this show really well.
In my opinion, Kinky Boots should be looked at as a period piece. Keeping the show and all of the language in the show as is could potentially serve as a reminder of where things were during that period and time. If the language remains the same, I think it’s definitely worth noting in the Playbill an explanation of the history of terms as well as information regarding the time period in which the show is set in. Given where we are in this day and time, Kinky Boots as written lands differently for a lot of people. As a show that’s meant to promote inclusivity and acceptance, I think some minor tweaks to language would take this show to the next level as someone said above “would make it timeless”.
I guess the question here is… Does Kinky Boots need to be a period piece or a timeless piece?
Kinky Boots Broadway posted this on Instagram….
Is this a hint that there are some re-writes in the Off-Broadway show?
Kinky Boots started previews Off-Broadway on Tuesday, July 26th. The show opens on Thursday, August 25th. I’ll be going to see the show on Friday, August 12th! Once I see the show, I’ll be back to report back my findings.
What are your thoughts on this? Let’s engage in discussion below.