Life is a real drag for two of Wolllongong’s musical exports.
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Both Daniel Downing and Ryan Gonzalez have been riding the Kinky Boots ride with the award-winning musical about to hit Sydney.
The show mixes songs written by pop icon Cyndi Lauper with the story of how a young man revamped his family’s failing shoe factory after finding unexpected inspiration from the glamorous drag queen Lola.
This is the fourth musical theatre show for Gonzalez who plays one of the angels in Lola’s posse.
“It’s a clever piece of theatre that challenges you a little bit, it makes you think about the way we treat everyone and the way we treat ourselves,” he said.
“It actually hits you right in the face and makes you think, and the music is incredible it gets stuck in your head.”
Meantime there’s no rivalry between Gonzalez and Downing who are loving being in the same production along with many behind-the-scenes personnel also hailing from the Illawarra.
“We sort of grew up competing against each other as dancers and it’s amazing to look back now … we never ever thought we’d be here and together as well,” Downing said.
“It’s so much fun. Honestly, the chance to be able to dress up as drag queens every night is not something you get to do all the time.
“And it has a really important and special message not only about the gay world but also about acceptance in general.”
It’s the first time Downing has been in a show that is more like a “rock concert” than a standard musical and receives regular standing ovations.
Both performers have had successful careers since leaving the Illawarra in their late teens – Downing spent time in the musical Wicked, while Gonzalez has also worked on movies and written his own cabaret show.
Eventually when when Kinky comes to an end Gonzalez hopes to bring his cabaret to Wollongong as “it will be good for the people who supported me and followed me”.
He’s also keen to get an audition for the upcoming production of Mamma Mia!
While Downing’s not thinking too far ahead.
“In an industry like this nothing’s certain so you have to appreciate the jobs you have while you have them,” he said.
Kinky Boots is based on the 2005 movie starring Joel Edgerton and inspired by a true story.
It runs at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney from April 12, before heading to Brisbane in August.