Kinky Boots, Adelphi Theatre ****

If last year was a bad year for the musical, this year is turning out to be a truly great one with a second superb musical that looks almost certain to have a decent run in the West End. The plot is predictable enough and it has the brash Broadway look with a set from David Rockwell that feels typical of a Broadway show. I was wanting to hate this show, feeling that it was another money making machine from America and in a way it is but it is also far more than that. It addresses sexuality in a way that isn't intimidating and provides one of the most pleasant, enjoyable and feel-good evenings around. The anti-phone message is unique and hilarious and Jamie Baughn is great as the person who delivers that message in his role as Don who is great as the bigot who surprises everyone. An ensemble cast are wonderfully slick for this early in previews. There will be some discussion over X Factor contestant Marcus Collins who has an ensemble role here after reportedly walking out on Joseph rehearsals but he does have a solo in the second half which he excels in and is an understudy for Lola which I'm sure he will be excellent as. The comedy role is played well by Amy Lennox whilst Killian Donnelly plays the owner of the failing shoe factory well. However, it is Matt Henry's Lola that is the true marvel of the piece. He fills Cyndi Lauper's decent score with life and soul. He plays the drag queen with sass and, for me, is shoe in for the Olivier next year. It doesn't see drag queens as masking their true selves but are celebratory towards difference and the audience reacted fantastically because of that. This is one Broadway musical which will deserve it's long run.