Shiny Happy Boots 

Tony award winning Kinky Boots is at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) thru June 14, and it’s a fast, funny and heartwarming show about the importance of being yourself.

Charlie Price inherits from his father a shoe factory — a set beautifully designed by David Rockwell — and finds himself in way over his head. He has a whole batch of shoes and no one to buy them. Into Charlie’s life walks sassy Lola, a glamorous drag queen and cabaret performer who makes no apologies. Charlie and Lola become friends. With Lola’s assistance, Charlie develops a plan to produce a specialty line of shoes: kinky boots. Lola meets with resistance from some of the macho factory workers who don’t understand why a man would dress in women’s clothing. Will Charlie be able to save his factory? Will Lola win over the factory workers? Is the sky blue?

Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell created a fun and high-energy show. “Everybody Say Yeah,” the finale of Act One, features the actors dancing on conveyor belts in the shoe factory.

The interactions between Lola and Charlie are some of the best moments in the show. Kyle Taylor Parker was a fabulously funny Lola. He delivered a spectacular vocal on the poignant “Hold Me in Your Heart.” Another highlight was “Sex is in the Heel,” a rocking dance number. Steven Booth hit all the right notes as Charlie and also exhibited some terrific vocals on “Soul of a Man.” Booth and Parker were superb on the ballad “Not My Father’s Son.” Lindsay Nicole Chambers was spunky as Lauren, the factory worker who has a crush on Charlie. Chambers excelled at her big solo, “The History of Wrong Guys.” Joe Coots provided some very funny moments as Don, the burly factory worker who is intimidated by Lola.

Kinky Boots has a lot of flash and style, but also a lot of heart. The songs were written by pop singer Cyndi Lauper. Harvey Fierstein wrote the book, which is packed with crisp dialogue. Kinky Boots will leave you smiling and kicking up your heels as you leave the theater.

Kinky Boots runs thru Jun 14  at Providence Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available at the PPAC Box Office (220 Weybosset St, PVD), by visiting ppacri.org or by calling 401.421.ARTS. Box Office Hours are Mon through Fri, 10am to 5pm; Sat, 10am to 2pm and two hours prior to all curtain times.