Review: SUNNY AFTERNOON, UK Tour

Manuel Harlan

Sunny Afternoon charts the rise of The Kinks, the iconic British rock band formed in 1964 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. Using the group’s greatest hits to tell their story, the show originally won four Olivier Awards in 2015, including Best New Musical. A decade later, however, time has not been kind to this jukebox musical, which struggles to hold its own among stronger contemporaries.

While The Kinks were known for their raw energy and inventive sound, Sunny Afternoon somehow manages to dilute that spirit into something bland and uncertain. The production lacks identity, unsure whether it wants to be a heartfelt biopic, a rock concert, or a nostalgic revue. The pacing feels disjointed, scenes often appear improvised, and several comedic moments fall flat, though the tone does settle somewhat in the second half.

For die-hard Kinks fans, there are flashes of insight into the band’s backstage tensions and some imaginative reinterpretations of familiar hits. Yet as a jukebox musical intended to bridge generations, it ultimately misses the mark.

The cast, however, cannot be faulted. Danny Horn (Ray Davies) and Oliver Hoare (Dave Davies) share convincing chemistry as the famously fractious brothers, supported by Harry Curley (Peter Quaife) and Zakarie Stokes (Mick Avory). Their musicianship is excellent, the live instrumentals are impressive, but the sound design is another story. Dialogue often gets lost, forcing the audience to lean in, only to be blasted moments later by overbearing volume during musical numbers.

Visually, the set, dominated by around 100 speakers, makes a strong first impression, evoking a recording studio aesthetic. Unfortunately, this striking design is undercut by clunky, literal props and stagehands dressed in black constantly ferrying items on and off stage. It distracts more than it adds.

Although the show aspires to capture the band’s history, it lacks the passion, drama, and danger that defined The Kinks themselves. The music, as ever, remains the saving grace, but only just. In the hands of a less capable cast, Sunny Afternoon might not get off the ground at all. Sunny Afternoon is not a bad show, just a forgettable one, a muted echo of what The Kinks truly were.

** Two Stars

Reviewed by Alanna Boden

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