★★★✩✩
There can be little doubt that The Kinks in their musical heyday left their global mark. Often cited as one of the most influential bands of the 1960s-80s, their canon of pop classics cannot be underestimated. It is little surprise then that theatre producers spotted a potential ker-ching of cash registers when a musical about the band was mooted. It came to pass in 2014 when the West End lit up to The Kinks Sunny Afternoon, winning a Best Musical Olivier Award in the process it has to be noted.
Not being huge Kinks fans ourselves we were intrigued to see what writer Joe Penhall had made of their story, the majority of which is set as you might expect in the 1960s. The story follows North London brothers Ray and Dave Davies as they form a band with their friends which eventually morphs into The Kinks. Ray proves to be a natural and gifted songwriter. Their seminal single 'You Really Got Me' issued in 1964 was an instant smash, just as the British Invasion was peaking in America. The difference between the two brothers is pronounced. Ray, introverted and with a nod to melancholy, and Dave, charismatic and wild. Its the Gallagher brothers but with class. Between them their differences form the spark of The Kinks, with Dave's skills as a guitarist gaining great acclaim.
The real problem with the musical is that there is not much story there. Band forms, band falls out, band implodes. It has been told a million times before and Sunny Afternoon is not unique enough to make it stand out amid the rest. Long scenes where the band question the subversive deals that they have been tied into by a succession of management figures are not exactly thrilling. What is thrilling though is the performances of Ray Davies catalogue (and this is very much Ray's version of events, and his songwriting. the hit single 'Death Of A Clown' for instance is excluded presumably as it was written by Dave). The cast of musicians who bring the story to life are the reason for buying a ticket. Danny Horn brings a vulnerability to Ray Davies, as his talent and personal life gets swamped under the pressures of being in a hit band. Oliver Hoare juxtoposes this with a Dave Davies living on the edge, party central with little understanding of the consquences of his actions. Both performers dominate the bulk of the scenes and give the show the energy that defines it. Harry Curley nicely sums up the frustration of being trapped between the conflicted brothers as bass guitarist Pete Quaife. Lisa Wright equally manages to elicit sympathy as Rasa, Ray's teenage first wife who finds herself trapped at home with a young baby whilst her husband gives his pop star on the other side of the world. Zakarie Stokes drums up a storm as Mick Avory, fourth member of The Kinks, and his drum solo rightly brings cheers from the audience. Ben Caplan recreates his original role as music industry mogul Eddie Kassner to good effect, and along with Joseph Richardson and Tam Williams, provide the heavyweight management who take a large amount of The Kinks earnings.
There can be little doubt the score contains some crackers: 'Dedicated Follower Of Fashion', 'Lola', '(Thank You For The) Days', 'Dead End Street' and of course the title track. Pop evergreens that will go on, the cast couldn't have performed them better. The vocal arrangements of Davies' quirky songs are by and large excellent, and when the full company joins together (both singing and playing the instruments) the combined effect is stunning. It more than makes up for the bland passages of dialogue. Looking at the whole, it might have been better to find an original story than try and adapt The Kinks own passage through the music industry. But it is what it is. A jukebox musical that does what it says on the tin. Director Edward Hall does his best to tie it all together in a neat bow, and manages a colourful show mired down with the bands own story.
On the whole, we did enjoy ourselves greatly at Sunny Afternoon but felt it was a flawed night full of brilliant performances. If you are a Kinks fan run to it, but if you are after a coherent drama when perhaps this is not for you.
Rob & Ian
Sunny Afternoon tours the UK until the end of May 2026. Tour details HERE
Further listening:
The 2014 original cast album is a fantastic listen, giving full reign to Ray Davies songwriting
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