Sunny Afternoon review - The Kinks' music lights up the Palace Theatre stage

Sunny Afternoon, the biographical musical detailing the creation and life of The Kinks, provides a lively alternative to the typical musician biopic. This bright and dynamic musical proves why it has been able to tour the UK multiple times from the get-go, as the audience is captured by the brothers Ray (Danny Horn) and Dave Davis (Oliver Hoare) at home creating the opening riff of ‘You Really Got Me’.

Credit: Cyrus Andrews @ Michael Ochs Archives

The audience is immediately thrust into 1964, captured by this song and the crazed teenage boys in their room creating it. After this point, Act One is packed with a sense of excitement as The Kinks become an established band with a growing fan base.

Whilst presenting the whirlwind of excitement that the band is feeling, the show simultaneously delves into the turbulent emotions of the four members. There is a focus on the way the death of Ray’s sister affects his relationship with music, which Danny Horn is able to capture earnestly in his portrayal of the role, evoking sympathy from the audience.

Sunny Afternoon is also able to show the testing trials of being in a band with your brother as Ray and Dave often find themselves in conflict, a parallel of the more contemporary Gallagher brothers and their tumultuous split. The closing of Act One is certainly reminiscent of Oasis, ending with the crescendo of the band's brawl that erupted during a gig.

Act Two looks deeper into the conflicts and upsets of the band and each member individually, beginning with their American tour. The members of the band appear in conflict with each other: Ray as a father, Dave as a player, whilst the other two members fade into the background. This furthers the focus on the sibling dynamic within the band creating a deeper conflict.

Credit: Creative Commons

After leaving America, there is a sudden pick up of the pace as Ray goes to court for the legal rights to the music, allowing the band to be independent and take home a majority revenue. Pete then suddenly leaves the band and, after one new song, is convinced to re-join.

Whilst the play is able to provide a fun evening of entertainment, the pacing sometimes felt random, as if they are attempting to fit too much into a small amount of time. This meant there were some moments which could have been approached with more depth, although these more tender moments can be hard to fit into the jukebox musical structure as songs' themes are limited to what has already been made.

Despite this, Sunny Afternoon is a fun presentation of the history of The Kinks and the vibrant mix of music in their long discography. It may not have sent everyone walking into a ‘Waterloo Sunset’ but it captured the funky extravagance of the 60s and enticing guitar riffs of early rock and roll.