**** Highly Recommended Sunny Afternoon – based on the music of the Kinks, is an absolute blast! Walking into the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, you’ll feel the excitement and anticipation in the air. Leading with You Really Got Me, they’ll cover the Kinks’ hit songs, including many that were never released here in America – and you’ll be dancing in your seat! By the way, never, did I ever, think I’d see the ENTIRE audiences at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on their feet dancing – and they were! 4 BIG Spotlights
The catalog of songs in this production is just phenomenal. In addition to the title song, Sunny Afternoon, the list includes You Really Got Me, Where Have All the Good Times Gone, All Day and All of the Night, Tired of Waiting, This Time Tomorrow, The Moneygoround, Waterloo Sunset, Lola and many more.
I can’t say enough about the four young men who play the Kinks – brothers and band founders, Ray Davies (Danny Horn) and Dave Davies (Oliver Hoare), bass player Peter Quaife and Drummer Mick Avory (Kieren McCabe). They’re all talented rock & roll musicians 
– and they can act! Danny Horn and Oliver Hoare also played the Davies brothers in the London production of Sunny Afternoon. Although she wasn’t a member of the band, Ray’s wife Rasa, played by Ana Margaret Marcu, deserves a mention. She has a beautiful voice, and like Rasa, sang back-up vocals on many of the Kinks’ songs.
The ensemble cast couldn’t be better. Almost everyone plays more than one role, not to mention singing back-up or dancing their hearts out. They are: Peggy/Ensemble (Emma Grace Bailey), Joyce/Ensemble (Joy Campbell), Fred Davies/Allen Klein/Ensemble (John Carlin), Larry Page/Ensemble (Sean Fortunato), Annie Davies/Marsha/Ensemble (Marya Grandy), Gregory Piven/Ensemble (Jared D.M. Grant), Grenville Collins/Ensemble (Will Leonard), Rasa/Dolly/Ensemble (Marcu), Robert Wace/Ensemble (Ben Mayne), Eddie Kassner/Ensemble (Joseph Papke), Gwen/Waitress/Ensemble (Kayla Shipman).
In addition to the Kinks, the band includes Mason Moss (Keyboard/Conductor), Daniel Peters (Guitar) and Heather Boehm (Musicians Contractor).
Sunny Afternoon was written by Joe Penhall, based on an original story by Ray Davies, who wrote the music and lyrics. The Chicago production is directed by CST Artistic Director Edward Hall, who also directed the London production, with choreography by Adam Cooper. Miriam Buether designed the set – a wall of amps – and all the swingin’ ‘60s costumes.
The Kinks got their start in the living room of the Davies home in working class London. According to Ray Davies, “Most of the stories come from the family in the front room where everyone played an instrument, and everyone collaborated.”
The Kinks were a huge success in the UK, but in the States they were just another British invasion band. Over a dispute with a union, they were banned from playing in the States which meant that many of their best songs were never released here. A pity!
Sunny Afternoon runs through April 27th in the Yard at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier, Chicago. Parking in CST’s designated area in the Navy Pier Garage is available at a 40% discount with validation from CST.
Running time is 2 hours, 40 minutes, with an intermission. Performances are Tuesdays at 7:00 pm; Wednesdays at 1:00 & 7:00 pm; Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm; Saturdays at 2:00 & 7:00 pm; Sundays at 2:00 pm.
Accessible performances:
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Audio-described performance with optional touch tour – Sunday, April 13 at 2:00 p.m.
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Open captioned performance – Wednesday, April 16 at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
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ASL interpreted performance – Friday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets range from $65-$140. FYI (312) 595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com