KINKY BUSINESS
The GIRL FROM QUEENS won the world over in the 80s with her unique style and brand of pop. Now she’s CONQUERED a new musical medium.
Cyndi Lauper won the world over in the 80s with her unique style and brand of pop. Now she’s conquered a new musical medium.
As an anthem of the 80s, Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Wanna Have Fun had a big impact on my young imagination. Its uplifting catchy beat made me feel joyful and proud to be a girl and I suddenly appreciated that it’s kind of cool to be diferent.
Blasting onto the pop scene in 1983 with her frst solo album, She’s So Unusual, all wild hair and make-up, a mish-mash of girlie vintage and punk, Lauper shot to stardom thanks to her of beat vibe. It seems ftting, then, that she’s recently achieved acclaim in a genre characterised by its efervescence, debuting as musical composer for the Broadway smash hit Kinky Boots, which is set to visit Melbourne next year.
Launched on Broadway in 2013, Kinky Boots went on to win six Tony Awards, including best musical and best score for Lauper, who says a big part of her attraction to taking on the challenge was the strong connection she felt to the story.
Inspired by the British 2005 flm of the same name and loosely based on real events, Kinky Boots tells the tale of Charlie Price, who inherits his father’s moribund shoe factory. In a bid to save it, Price enlists the help of cross-dressing cabaret singer Lola, whose designs reinvigorate the company. At its heart, the script speaks of what can be achieved when prejudice is overcome.
“It’s such a human story. Everybody understands not living up to your father’s expectations, everyone understands trying to embrace your passion. Tat wasn’t foreign to me, and I loved it,” Lauper says.
Entering new creative territory, however, did require a diferent songwriting process for the artist. “With a Broadway musical I’m writing for the character, instead of my own voice, so I had to think about what that particular character would say and how he or she would sound, not what I would say or what my sound is,” she explains.
During her long career, Lauper has always represented freedom of expression, yet also received her share of ridicule for bucking convention. Her commitment to celebrating diference has been of ongoing importance in her life. A passionate advocate for equality, she co-founded the True Colors Fund in 2008, a foundation aiming to end homelessness among lesbian, gay and transgender youth, and has won numerous awards for her activism.
So far, audiences have responded to Kinky Boots with equally open hearts. “I like to call Kinky Boots a happy pill,” states Lauper. “No matter what stress or sadness you walk into the theatre with, it’s impossible not to be happy and cheering and dancing by the end of the show. But it’s also more than that; the friendship between Lola and Charlie is really inspiring, so I hope people also leave inspired.”
After the success of this musical, there are sure to be more in the pipeline for Lauper. At 62, she still has the energy. Over the past fve years, in addition to making her mark in musical theatre, she’s embarked on a world tour performing her songs; starred in her own reality TV show; released a memoir; acted in TV series Bones; and balanced career with family life.
Her motivation, she says, is simple. “Life inspires me. My own life, but also those around me and the lives of people I read about in the world who are doing good things. Tere’s inspiration everywhere.” Kinky Boots will show at Her Majesty’s Teatre, Melbourne, from October 2016. Go to www.kinkybootsthemusical.com.au.