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Sarah Frater's rating
, Step aside Imelda, this musical is perfect shoe business
By
Sarah Frater
8 Sep 2010
Is Richard Thomas going soft? We rely on the Jerry Springer, The Opera creator to skewer our celebrity obsessions and mock the sentimentality and naffness of musicals, soaps and chat shows.
Yet with Stephen Mear he’s created a sunny revue-cum-musical about our obsession with shoes that’s a hair’s breadth from Sex And The City. It’s a big production, with dancers, singers and musicians, 250 pairs of stilettos, trainers and platforms and, of course, Imelda Marcos.
Few would begrudge the talented Thomas his shilling — the show has money-making world tour written all over it. Fewer still could resist the cheeky humour (Ugg wearers as gamboling lambs) and phrase-playing lyrics, such as Time Wounds All Heels. However, the two-hour show could be tougher on the bonkers business of buying shoes.
It could be sharper on our foibles and vices so deftly exploited by the dark art of shoe marketing which easily out-punches political spin doctoring.
It makes us buy shoes that don’t fit us, don’t suit us and which we can’t afford and rarely wear. Thomas goes easy on most of this. He recently said that after writing an opera about the doomed Playboy centrefold Anna Nicole Smith he wanted to do something cheerful. On these terms, he and his creative team succeed.
Director and principal choreographer Mear has created numerous upbeat dance routines, many very funny, such as Desire: The Brand (singing nuns) and The Stiletto (a big bird wagging her arse). The four guest choreographers provide variety, although only Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui adds artistic depth.
Shoes is a laugh, but it’s more the warm glow of religious indulgence than the bonfire of the vanities.
Until September 11, 0844 412 4300
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
