One of the great things about the theatre which one always forgets if you don't go often (we don't go often) is that you can look at someone - stare at someone - for 2 hours if you want to, without it being weird or embarrassing. And in this show there is so much to admire and take in - one's focus can go anywhere on the stage - one tries to look at everything, but in the end the most fascinating thing is this man's face. It is intelligent and unusual and humorous and sensitive and strong - and the fascination is not desire (luckily, I don't have much desire left) but only fascination: you want to know what is truly behind that face; I guess this is charisma. He has a load of charisma, he is a leader.
So it is entirely appropriate that he's playing the leader of a band: Ray Davies of the Kinks, the guy who wrote most of the songs. It's Ray's show and he makes himself the hero of the piece; all the less palatable parts of his life are cut away to depict him as Mr Clean, which we didn't fall for for a second. But this is art; it makes for a dramatic contrast with his brother.
It's a great show. The cast change their clothes constantly and come back on to do more energetic dancing and singing, the singing is superb (the a capella version of "Thank you for the Days" was a highlight) and so is the playing and the atmosphere was great too.
here's a great trailer showing you how exciting and energetic it is.
I don't think John Dalgliesh is like Ray Davies - but at times he is a little like John Lennon, and that's pretty special.
And the show is called Sunny Afternoon, which is the name of the Song That I Can Sing. I can't sing many songs.
No comments:
Post a Comment