Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Sunny AfterNoon Review
The cast of Sunny Afternoon
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Presents SUNNY AFTERNOON Review - The Rise and Fall and Rise of The Kinks
TLDR: More than just a history of The Kinks’ early days, Sunny Afternoon crafts a compelling story with all the ups and downs of a band coming into its own led by four talented multi-disciplined leads making up the members of the band. It captures the essence of the 60s and 70s and feels like we could be at one of their concerts.
Danny Horn (Ray Davies), Oliver Hoare (Dave Davies), Kieran McCabe (Mick Avory) and Michael Lepore (Peter Quaife)
The Early Days of The Kinks at Chicago Shakes
The stage is open when we take our seats at CST with no pre-show curtain. We see the stage ready to go like it’s set for a concert. The walls are literally covered in speakers from top to bottom. A runway juts out from the center leading out into the front section of the audience. And instruments. Countless instruments from a piano, to a drum kit, to various types of guitars are all posed on their stands, ready to be played.
A frontman enters and steps up to the mic dressed in a white dinner jacket and dress pants. His band backing him is dressed completely differently in regular street clothes. Party guests walk through the audience and up the stairs onto the stage dressed in black and white gowns and tuxedos. The lead singer tries to charm the guests to no avail. The band decides it's time for a shakeup and comes to an abrupt halt. They take over the event with a catchy rock tune that has everybody busting a move. From humble beginnings and starting their career as an event band, The Kinks get their explosive start and hit the ground running.
We’re taken to the highest of highs with The Kinks as they find their sound, get picked up by a record label, and start making it big with chart topping hits. And then Act 2 takes us through their not so uplifting times like managing depression, a tour ban, and legal woes. It’s a roller coaster of a story that has us gripped from beginning to end.
We’re traveling the span of a decade from the mid-60s to the early seventies and the costumes and wigs designed by Miriam Buether are giving mod to the max. We’re talking the mini-est of mini skirts and hair bumps getting as close to God as they possibly can. The costumes of the band themselves also capture their iconic performance looks from the tailored green jackets and funky hat to the flared red overcoats of their American tour.
Michael Lepore (Peter), Danny Horn (Ray), Ana Margaret Marcu (Rasa) and Oliver Hoare (Dave)
Quadruple Threats
The four leading men have it all from the acting chops, to musical talent, to having overall rock ‘n roll star vibes.
The story of Sunny Afternoon centers around Ray Davies played by Danny Horn as the frontman and songwriter for the group. We follow his journey as he struggles with maintaining integrity in his art while they work to make it big. Horn plays every level of Ray from being the charismatic leader when he performs, to sweet as he falls in love with his first wife, to seeing him literally fall apart when it all becomes too much. And yet, he shows strength when he needs to bring everyone back together and continue fighting for everything he feels they are owed and worked for.
Oliver Hoare as his younger brother Dave transitions from a young teenager with his dreams coming true right before his eyes to a struggling young adult. He swings from the chandelier and parties endlessly. We feel his frustration rising at being sidelined, but when he finally lets his walls down we see he still has so much more growing up to do.
Though Michael Lepore’s character, Peter Quaife, seems like he fades into the background, Lepore makes his presence known when he needs to. When Pete needs to express his feelings to his fellow bandmates, we feel nothing but genuineness from him. He sticks true to who he is and what he needs from his friends.
And not to be overshadowed by all the other drama that’s happening, Kieran McCabe as Mick Avory gets his bits in when he can and ultimately gets his moment to shine.The audience on opening night gave him a round of staggering, well deserved applause after a kick-ass drum solo.
These four not only embody their characters, but they do so all while playing their respective instruments and giving a performance to bring the house down.
The cast of Sunny Afternoon
Turn It Up to 10+
Not only is the staging set for a concert, but there are moments where it feels like the show turns into a concert itself.
The overtones of “You Really Got Me” echo during the first act almost as if we’re inside Ray’s head trying to get it out. Ray and Dave sit in Ray’s bedroom while everyone else goes out to the pub. They try again and again to create that uncivilized, messy sound and perfect delivery for the soon to be iconic guitar lick. We go from regular musical to concert in an instant as the sound level is turned up to an eleven and blasts through the speakers rocking the theater.
When we move into recreations of their performances on television and on tour, the band performs like we’re at their concert. They jump across the stage, heads banging, and cymbals crashing. They strut onto the runway and members of the audience stand and cheer. We can tell the love for this band runs deep for longtime fans.
Danny Horn as Ray Davies and Ana Margaret Marcu as his wife, Rasa
The After Party Thoughts
I will admit my prejudices almost got the better of me going into Sunny Afternoon. I was ready to write this one off as another standard band biopic musical, but I’m happy to report Sunny Afternoon exceeds all of my expectations and gives us a story with so much drama, love, music that it feels like it can’t be real.
As my fellow member of The After Party so aptly described the show, it’s a story not a book report. Many biographical musicals feel like they follow a typical structure where it’s a chronology of events - this happened, then this happened, this was happening when we wrote this song, etc etc. Not that there’s anything wrong with a timeline of events if a musical does it well (think along the lines of Jersey Boys), but the way Sunny Afternoon is crafted it feels effortless the way they weave The Kink’s songs into the story like a traditional musical. We actually get to feel immersed in their story rather than just observing it.
Even though we’re not covering the entire span of The Kinks history, it’s still a lot of material to cover. Sunny Afternoon doesn’t shy away from the hard parts and keeps the story moving even if they can’t cover everything in depth, but most importantly crafts a compelling story.
And then besides giving us a well-crafted, universally accessible musical, holy cow is this cast talented. Reading through their bios, most of the leading lads have their own bands or separate music projects and so they come to the table ready to play. They capture that rock ‘n roll star vibe these characters called for and back it up with matching musical talent. Sunny Afternoon has it all and not only would be a good fit for longtime fans, but for musical and music lovers alike.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
The cast of Sunny Afternoon
When
Now through April 27, 2025
Where
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
800 East Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Runtime: 2 hours 30min, plus an intermission
Tickets
$30+
Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at (312) 595-5600 or through the Chicago Shakespeare Theater website
Photos
Carol Rosegg
Find Allie and The After Party featured on Theatre In Chicago
Danny Horn as Ray Davies
CAST
Danny Horn (Ray Davies)
Oliver Hoare (Dave Davies)
Michael Lepore (Peter Quaife / Ensemble)
Kiernan McCabe (Mick Avory / Ensemble)
Ben Mayne (Robert Wace / Ensemble)
Will Leonard (Grenville Collins / Ensemble)
John Carlin (Fred Davies / Allen Klein / Ensemble)
Marya Grandy (Annie Davies / Marsha / Ensemble)
Ana Margaret Marcu (Rasa / Sister / Ensemble)
Sean Fortunato (Larry Page / Ensemble)
Joseph Papke (Kassner / Ensemble)
Jared D.M. Grant (Gregory Piven / Ensemble)
Emma Grace Bailey (Peggy / Ensemble)
Joy Campbell (Joyce / Ensemble)
Kayla Shipman Gwen / Waitress / Ensemble
Understudies:
Alek Boggio, Grant Alexander Brown, Joey Chelius, Matthew Benenson Cruz, Ben Izlar Jr., Laura Nelson, Ashton Norris
CREATIVE
Ray Davies (Music, Lyrics, and Original Story)
Joe Penhall (Book)
Edward Hall (Director)
Elliott Ware (Music Supervisor)
Adam Cooper (Choreographer)
Miriam Buether (Set and Costume Designer)
Rick Fisher (Lighting Designer)
Matt McKenzie (Sound Designer)
Mason Moss (Music Director)
Bob Mason (Chicago Casting)
Andrew Fem (Casting By Them New York Casting)
Christopher Chase Carter (Associate Director)
Max Fabian (Fight and Intimacy Choreographer)
Marie Ramirez Downing (Dialect and Vocal Coach)
Emily Goodenough (Assistant Choreographer)
Milo BueAssociate (Scenic Designer)
Ken Hampton (Associate Sound Designer)
Jo Hoagland (Directing Apprentice)
Christine D. Freeburg (Production Stage Manager)
Danny Fender (Assistant Stage Manager)
D&J Arlon (Executive Producer)
Anna Vu (Production Assistant)
Nat Treloar (Instrument Tech)