Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks
- leejamesscriven
- Mar 25
- 2 min read
Sunny Afternoon pulled up at Milton Keynes Theatre and provided a brilliant and befitting tribute to the legendary Kinks.
Armed with some of the greatest pop anthems of the 20th century the show charted the rise of one of Britain’s most cherished rock bands.
Miriam Buether’s superb stage design set the tone of the the swinging ’60s, with the stage walls littered with speakers and amplifiers, taking you right into the world of the band.
As the show started it quickly became apparent, the cast were playing their instruments live! Trust me, that’s rare, very rare.
Plus, the tempo of the play was spot on, with continuous movement from a large cast that ensured all the scene changes were smooth and never distracted you from the plot.
I was relieved the show’s portrayal of the Kinks story wasn’t overtly twee and the script wasn’t just written to fill the gaps between well-known songs. Sadly, a trait that I’ve often endured many times before when watching other rock music legends musicals.
Technically, a live show, with a live band playing and performers singing on and off mics is demanding. And yes, there were times when the vocals drifted, but I would prefer that any day over backing tracks and computerized vocal enhancement.
Sunny Afternoon narrates the story from Ray Davies’s perspective, the lead singer and the songwriter behind the music, lyrics and the band’s musical ethos.
In doing so, it presents the true story of The Kinks and how four young boys from London’s outskirts rose to become a famous part of rock history. As I said, Sunny Afternoon details their upbringing and downfalls as a group in a very respectful and highly enjoyable manner.
The four band members Pete Quaife (Harry Curley), Mick Avory (Zakarie Stokes), Dave Davies (Oliver Hoare) and Ray Davies (Danny Horn) all brilliantly portray their alter egos and are very convincing as a British pop group of the 1960’s.
But it wouldn’t be fair or right to lavish praise on just the band, as the entire cast were superb. Many taking on lots of different parts and roles, while also musically contributing to the live performances.
Ray Davies’s songs possess a strong sense of storytelling, infused with his unique sharpness, humor, and a touch of melancholy and nostalgia. Bringing them to life live on stage is a heavy responsibility, but for me this production passed the test with aplomb.
All in all, this was one of the best musicals I’ve seen for a very long time.
To sum up, Sunny Afternoon: ‘You Really Got Me!
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