Review: SUNNY AFTERNOON at The Harold Pinter Theatre

Nastazja Domaradzka 26 January, 2016, 20:17

Sunny Afternoon I was apprehensive before seeing this musical about one of my favourite bands. Knowing that West End productions have a tendency to glamorise real stories I was worried the gritty spirit of The Kinks would be lost. I am happy to report that I was wrong - this is the best musical I have ever seen!

We meet the members of the band when they are still playing for weddings and trying their best to get out of Muswell Hill.

Although talented and very different in style from their contemporaries, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles, not everything goes smoothly for The Kinks; even after their first number one, YOU GOT ME.

David’s temper along with his grand style of living and Ray’s unplanned fatherhood and a ban from performing in USA are a few of the obstacles that the band members have to overcome in order to find success.

The Kinks’ music could easily be destroyed in the wrong hands but this is an ensemble of great musicians and talented actors. I attended a performance when the two leading parts of the Davies brothers were played by the understudies. Ryan O’Donnel (Ray) and Robbie White (Dave) both delivered outstanding performances and the chemistry between the two of them was mesmerizing.

This is the best musical I have ever seen!

O’Donnel was the undoubted star of the show and his rendition of SITTING IN MY HOTEL was very moving thanks to an incredible voice and a vulnerability which ensured that moments which could have been “too musical theatre” proved to be highlights.

Miriam Buether’s set, although minimalistic for a West End production, allows the actors to play with the space and it uses the powerful magic of theatre by stirring the audience’s imagination.

“Sunny Afternoon” is not only a tribute to the legendary British band and hits such as YOU GOT ME, WATERLOO SUNSET and LOLA but, thanks to Ray Davies overseeing the creative process, it also proves to be a vivid account of their journey to success and its time period. Full of cultural as well as historical and political references SUNNY AFTERNOON transports us to quirky and crazy 60’s and 70’s Britain.

What a treat! An absolute must see and not only for Kinks’ fans!

Sunny Afternoon tickets