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Sunny Afternoon. The Kinks. Nottingham Theatre Royal
Tuesday 24th January 2017
Review by Reg Enderby, Editor, The Nottingham Gig Guide
Arriving at Nottingham’s Theatre Royal on a dank winters night I was looking forward to a Sunny Afternoon with The Kinks. Half expecting yet another tribute act I was a little confused at the start when a lack lustre band began strumming out a few chords. Was this the support act? Name on the drum kit said The Ravens. I am no Kinks aficionado and did not quite get it... yes I can hear you all screaming this was their original name!! As the mist settled things became clearer and we were taken on a theatrical journey with music, song, dance, theatre and comedy. The story takes you right back to the Davies brothers humble beginnings at their home in Muswell Hill, North London. Ray (played by Ryan O’Donnell) and Dave (played by Mark Newnham) bounced songs and guitar riffs off each other and with the brotherly banter had the capacity crowd in stitches. Other band members got in on the act as well with drummer Andrew Gallow as Mick Avory, playing an angry young man with larger than life character. Equally the more subdued Garmon Rhys on bass as Pete Quaife gave a more dark sombre performance but also hilarious.
The story continues with their new name and management as they are thrust into the limelight and the stage explodes into a dance and lighting extravaganza....did I really see Dave Davies in a dress swinging from a chandelier? There is a big cast in this show who all contribute with vocal, dance and live instruments. Scenes from The Kinks good and bad times are recreated on stage including their torrid time with The American Federation of Musicians who banned them for some years from appearing in the USA.
Continuing personal battles and great music took us further with this amazing production. Hits including, “You Really Got Me” and “Waterloo Sunset” where just a couple of songs that had the audience on their feet and as the program says this is a hit musical and that is exactly what it is. It is not a tribute act but as the show was originally written by the man himself Ray Davies, it is a tribute and a legacy to him. Nice one, Sir Raymond Douglas Davies
By, Reg Enderby, Editor, Nottingham Gig Guide
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