A kinky night out in Leongatha
LEONGATHA Lyric Theatre’s (LLT) long-running efforts to bring Kinky Boots to the local stage paid off in spectacular fashion on Friday night with a near capacity audience thrilled by the opening performance. Initially quiet and reserved, attendees...
LEONGATHA Lyric Theatre’s (LLT) long-running efforts to bring Kinky Boots to the local stage paid off in spectacular fashion on Friday night with a near capacity audience thrilled by the opening performance.
Initially quiet and reserved, attendees came alive when Lola and her angels hit the stage.
Lola’s energy was infectious, with Jonah van Stekelenburg hurling himself into the role and drawing on his experience as a trapeze artist.
While he has acting experience elsewhere, it’s his first time performing with Lyric Theatre.
He’s quickly become a part of the inclusive Lyric family and loved the opportunity to explore his feminine side as the enigmatic Lola.
Lyric Theatre president Bron Beach was thrilled with the success of opening night, with the group having started work on its Kinky Boots production in 2019.
“Everybody felt so joyful because it had happened and we’d finally got it to opening night and it exceeded our expectations, and to have it come off and be such a hit was terrific,” Bron said.
People commented that they didn’t expect to experience the range of emotions they did during the show.
“There’s lots of content in it that makes you think and feel,” Bron said.
She described the musical as “non-stop”, particularly backstage, with the drag queens’ many costume changes requiring the efficiency of a pit crew to ensure the performance flowed as intended.
The versatile set presented its own challenge, with the backstage crew needing to be alert to what needed to be moved where, something that was achieved brilliantly.
“Everything worked as we hoped it would,” Bron said.
While it was a brilliant performance all around, Lola was undoubtedly the centre of attention.
“The audience was mesmerised and titillated,” director Brad Beach said of Jonah’s stunning performance.
Sam Shineberg shone as Charlie Price, having formerly portrayed Igor in LLT’s 2019 Young Frankenstein
production.
The multi-talented performer has previously worked as a director and musical director.
There is no doubt the Kinky Boots cast will continue to receive standing ovations throughout the remainder of the season, running across 10 more performances until July 16, with tickets still available.
