'Sunny Afternoon’

Review by Elyse Trevers

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London and New York have an unofficial lend-lease program, and often successful West End shows are imported to Broadway. This year ‘Sunny Afternoon’ won the coveted Olivier Award for Best Musical in London. Will it come to New York and, more importantly, will it succeed?

The musical tells the story of the popular ’60s group, The Kinks. The four young men from blue collar backgrounds produced several hit songs including “Sunny Afternoon,” “You Really Got Me,” “Dedicated Follower of Fashion,” and “Waterloo Sunset.” The group was comprised of lead singer and songwriter Ray Davies and his brother Dave, drummer Mick Avory and Peter Quaife on bass guitar. While The Rolling Stones and The Beatles took America by storm in the 1960s, The Kinks got into a dispute with the musicians’ federation in the U.S. Consequently the group was banned from touring in the U.S. for four years.

On stage they were often tumultuous as well. Ray and Dave argued frequently and there were professional differences among all the band members. Over the years, the musicians in the group changed.

Davies’ songs are clever, insightful and often ironic and funny. He sounds vulnerable yet knowing at the same time. When the music is upbeat and the songs are familiar, the audience is onboard, moving and singing. The Kinks’s music reflected English culture and lifestyle. One need only look at the lyrics of the title song to hear a commentary on England. “Save me, save me, save me from this squeeze,” reflected the British government’s wrestling with financial crises.

In the second act, when Davies is despondent, the music reflects his mood – often in quiet ballads and duets. (In real life, Davies had a breakdown.) The pace of the show slows down considerably. Although Davies’ beautiful lyrics are quite moving, many in the audience seemed to lose interest.

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