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Danny Horn as Ray Davies and Company. Picture: Manuel Harlan Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks Musical The Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham ***** This is a terrific hybrid of the jukebox musical genre featuring a band, The Kinks, who were at the heart of the 1960’s Great British Musical Invasion, and their inspiration, Ray Davies. Their story is driven by the compelling sub plot of warring brothers Ray and David Davies offering fortuitous synchronicity with the current Oasis revival. What are the odds on an Oasis musical in twenty years time? I saw the Kinks live at the tail end of their career in the 1990’s and have seen Ray Davies perform solo on several occasions. The sound and delivery is authentic and a joy. Ray has written the story as well as the songs and lyrics. Shoehorning the band’s story, his own story, and a significant slice of British musical history into a single show is a gargantuan task- but one which he achieves with remarkable success in a tale full of not only great songs, but considerable wry humour. Social commentary and self- deprecating gags abound. Joe Penhall is credited with having written the book. He throws every dramatic device into the creative pot and somehow emerges triumphantly. Success, failure, hope, betrayal, nostalgia, confrontation, duplicity, camaraderie and treachery all exist cheek by jowl over an eight year period. America is satisfyingly lampooned, satirising both the McCarthyite political, and immigration, excesses. A large ensemble cast, at one point I counted eighteen on stage, abound with zip and energy. Danny Horn is convincing, physically very similar to Ray, and a consummate singer and musician on stage, Oliver Hoare has a ball as zany and troubled David. Tam Williams and Joseph Richardson as oily managers Grenville Collins and Robert Wave, are a memorable posh comedy double act counterpointing the visceral tension between the brothers and amongst the band. The music itself is brash, and pleasingly loud- “You’ve really Got me “ is reprised numerous times. However , the musical highlights arrive unexpectedly. Lisa Wright as Ray’s wife Rasa duets beautifully on “I Go to Sleep”. The band and managers deliver an astonishing acapella version of the sublime “Days” The running time is two and three quarter hours including interval, and still does not seem enough with “Autumn Almanac” and “Come dancing” cruelly omitted in favour of a slew of hits. The finale of “Waterloo Sunset”, a rocking sing a long “Lola” and hits mega mix , is exhilarating and delightfully exhausting. The hair, wigs, make up and costuming are a visual time tunnel cornucopia. Anyone who likes mini skirts will not be disappointed with a show which wildly exceeded my expectations, and was awarded a richly deserved standing ovation This “Sunny Afternoon” continues at the Alex until Saturday the 25th before further dates nationwide. Gary Longden 21-10-25 The afternoons will be sunny again at Malverm 2-7 March, 2026 |
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