Sunny Afternoon at the Bristol Hippodrome
Posted on: 2017-03-08
Our rating:
A theatrical retelling of The Kinks' formative years, featuring a soundtrack of stone-cold classics from the band's back-catalogue.
Bristol theatregoers have been thrown smack bang into the middle of the swinging sixties as Sunny Afternoon, the Olivier Award-winning Kinks musical, has taken to the stage at Bristol Hippodrome. Showing until 11th March this exuberant, celebratory production tells the story of the group’s rise from obscurity in working class North London to worldwide fame.
While not quite hitting the stratospheric heights of contemporaries The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, The Kinks were one of the defining bands of the decade, and have the impressive back catalogue of instantly recognisable hits to prove it. The simple but compelling lyrics of Ray Davies are used to push forward Joe Penhall’s narrative charting the arguments, violence, legal battles and artistic differences that threatened to tear the band apart.
Whether you are a die-hard fan or totally new to the group’s musical mastery the show has been carefully crafted to mean it is a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours for everyone. Sunny Afternoon is not just another jukebox musical but aims to truly tell the story of these working-class lads, demonstrating depth and real class as it perfectly evokes the period and outlines the poignancy underpinning some of the classic lyrics.
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Timeless songs, including ‘Waterloo Sunset’, ‘Dedicated Follower of Fashion’ and ‘You Really Got Me’, are woven amongst the dialogue and are used to great effect to illustrate the personal turmoil and wider political issues of the time.
This is an exhilarating and lively production beautifully staged by Edward Hall, with stunning costumes and a simple set which includes a catwalk extending into the centre of the auditorium and making the audience a real part of the action. Fantastic period-appropriate choreography by Adam Cooper ensures pace is maintained throughout.
The cast are all excellent, not only singing and dancing their way across the stage and up and down the aisles but doubling up as musicians too.
Reprising his West End role, Ryan O’Donnell is perfect as the introspective and artistically-tortured Ray Davies caught between the call of fame and his socialist principles.
The standout performance, however, belongs to Mark Newnham as Dave Davies, who embraces the pop star life of sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll and seems to be reveling in the flamboyant clothes and outrageous chandelier-swinging behaviour of the man himself.
All credit too to the rest of the quartet; Andrew Gallo wields his drumsticks with skill and pizazz as volatile drummer Mick Avory and Garmon Rhys delights as the increasingly disillusioned bassist Pete Quaife.
Sunny Afternoon is a combination of electrifying sound and vibrant imagery that takes the audience back in time. The finale was a joyful affair that had the whole audience up on their feet dancing and belting out the lyrics to ‘Lola’ along with the cast. All in all, a fantastic show and one not to be missed.
Tickets are still available for the remaining performances of Sunny Afternoon, you can grab them here.
Article by:
Sarah-Jane is an aficionado of film, theatre, culture and the arts. A voracious reader and avid crafter, she can be found volunteering her face painting talents at Bristol Zoo when she's not cementing her reputation as Coalpit Heath’s cake maker extraordinaire. Known to have an opinion on everything she’s never happier than when sharing these with the good folk of Bristol!
