This isn’t a sponsored post.
BrumHour saw Sunny Afternoon at the invite of The Alexandra.
Oliver Hoare spoke about his role in Sunny Afternoon to Brum Radio’s Interval Theatre. Listen below:
By Dave Massey
Sunny Afternoon at The Alexandra: Review
⭐⭐⭐⭐”A solid musical biography”
Directed by Edward Hall, music, lyrics and original story by Ray Davies, book by Joe Penhall
Following the early years of The Kinks, this musical from band member Ray Davies, depicts their formation and first visits to the USA (and getting banned from there).
The music and style of the band really sell this as a strong musical biography, and there is some drama to add to the proceedings, fueled by poor mental heath management of performers who were all pretty young at the time.
The set is one huge recording studio, which is peppered with speakers, music equipment, and instruments that the performers use throughout. The costumes of the era change at a fair pace, sometimes on stage, sometimes at the side in a quick-change space.
Danny Horn and Oliver Hoare return to their roles in Sunny Afternoon, and their comfortable closeness really helps solidify their sibling rivalry as Ray and Dave Davies. Oliver Hoare, particularly chaotic as the ladies’ man, enjoying a few bottles of spirts and swinging from the rafters.
The music is the star here; All Day and All of the Night, Waterloo Sunset, Lola, and You Really Got Me are all songs that resonate for days afterwards. A song I didn’t really know was I Go To Sleep, which is such a haunting track and contrasts with the rest of the brash styles on display.
A knowledge of The Kinks is not needed for this production, but helpful as the story goes on. At two hours and forty minutes, this is a lengthy musical, but well worth it for the curtain call.
Sunny Afternoon is a solid musical biography and is at The Alexandra until 25th October. Book tickets here: atgtickets.com/shows/sunny-afternoon/the-alexandra-theatre-birmingham.
