Kinks Get Krazy

Photo from Chicago Shakespeare Theater Facebook page.

It’s hard to believe it was all the way back in May of 2014 when I first mentioned Sunny Afternoon here on Broken Hearted Toy. After noting the musical had sold out its run at the Hampstead Theatre in London, I added, “I can’t help hoping it will make its way to America, and Chicago in particular.” Eleven years later, that wish has come true, as a production opened at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater on Navy Pier last week. It’s scheduled to run through April 27. 

The play is based on the music of The Kinks, with original story, music, and lyrics by Ray Davies and book by Joe Penhall. Most of the Chicago cast are Yanks, but director Edward Hall, as well as Danny Horn and Oliver Hoare—who portray Ray and Dave Davies respectively—are veterans of a 2015 Sunny Afternoon run at the West End Theatre in London. I have no idea if anything was changed for the U.S.; American business types are still portrayed as an obnoxious lot that temporarily bans The Kinks from performing here. There’s also a funny dig at Illinois, which might be a wink at Chicagoans.

Kinks fans around the globe have always relished the way Ray Davies sets compelling tales and biting satire to well-crafted melodies. So it’s surprising his autobiographical musical depicts him as often being haunted by self doubt. The band members were notorious for arguments and even physical, onstage altercations, some of which are realistically staged in Sunny Afternoon.

Ray’s marriage to Rasa Didzpetris is sensitively handled, and given a chance to convey the pure heartache of the Kinks rarity “I Go To Sleep,” cast member Ana Margaret Marcu definitely meets the challenge. Horn, Hoare, Michael Lepore (as Peter Quaife), and Kieran McCabe (as Mick Avory) consistently impress with their live performance of Kinks songs such as “You Really Got Me,” “Til The End Of The Day,” “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” and “A Rock ’N' Roll Fantasy.” Not to give anything away, but Sunny Afternoon has a two-fisted finale that’s spectacular. Bottom line, there are good times going on at Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

My only disappointment was not finding any merchandise for sale. When I saw Tommy at the Goodman Theatre, I came home with a coffee mug and guitar picks. Luckily, there are some Kinks collectibles for sale on the official website for The Kinks. They’re not related to the Sunny Afternoon musical, but they do celebrate the band that gave us that music.