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Danny Horn as Ray Davies. Picture: Manual Harlan Sunny afternoon Malvern Theatres **** This
award-winning hit musical written along with music by Ray Davies, played
enigmatically by Danny Horn, tells the Story of the Kinks’ remarkable
journey through an incredible back catalogue of chart toppers including
You Really Got Me,
Lola and
All Day and All of the Night. We are taken on a magical journey through time,
hearing all those favourite timeless tracks. The opening set is a makeshift 60’s recording
studio, with musicians milling about. The name on the bass drum is the
Ravers. The presenter Eddie Kassner, played by Ben Caplan,
is the warmup act for Ray Davies and we meet the rest of the band; Dave
Davies, played by Oliver Hoare, another vocalist, the drummer, Mick
Avory played by Zakarie Stokes and the bassist Pete Quaife played by
Harry Curley. Soon their managers Robert Wace, played by Joseph
Richardson and Larry Page played by Alasdair Craig who seemed to be
manipulating the action in the way the band didn’t like, realised they
needed to change their names and they became The Kinks. The four strong band
strove together to produce their first hit,
You Really Got Me.
Suddenly they were noticed. There were demands on them to make further hit
singles and so they did. However, the pressure began to take its toll on
their personal lives. There were conflicts between band members, with
Dave losing his temper and smashing up equipment, and other band members
threatening to leave. During this time female fans are gathering in
abundance, and Ray meets Rasa, played by Lisa Wright, who is later found
to be expecting Ray’s baby and who subsequently becomes his wife. She is
also a singer and joins the band for some of the tracks. The band tour in America and the pressure
accelerates. Ray becomes homesick and at one point he just has to come
home to parents Mr Davies, played by Phil Corbitt, who also plays Allen
Klein, and Mrs Davies, played by Deryn Edwards who also plays Marsha. Other members of this powerful troupe include
Gwen/dance captain played by Victoria Anderson, Gregory Piven, played by
James Chisholm, Joyce played by Jada Langley, Peggy played by Emily
Whitby- Samways, and Grenville Collins played by Tam Willians. Alex ward
was a guitarist This is a brilliantly
powerful ensemble piece, performed by a dynamic troupe of talented
actors, singers and dancers. We hear excellent vocal and instrumental
renditions of well-known Kinks’ songs which the audience are delighted
to join in, including an excellent drum solo from Zakarie Stokes as
Avory. There was a standing ovation at the end of the performance when
the entire company played a medley of well-loved songs including
Lola. Directed by Edward Hall
with book by Joe Penhall, this dynamic show runs to Saturday 7th
March. Jane Lush 03-03-26 |
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