Take a fun trip back to the 70’s disco era with ‘Get Down Tonight’ – the story of KC of The Sunshine Band.
Including the titular song, KC’s group – KC and the Sunshine Band – had other huge hits in the 70’s including ‘I’m your Boogie man’ and ‘Shake Your Booty.’ Their music brings back memories of disco balls, flare trousers, and lots of hairspray! Told through the eyes of KC – Harry Wayne Casey (played by Aaron Archer), this show, written by J.F. Lawton, is how KC went from working in a record store and struggling as an artist and writing his own songs to becoming a global sensation. You couldn’t go anywhere in the 70’s without hearing his music (‘Rock Your Baby,’ ‘That’s the Way (uh uh) I Like it,’ and ‘Boogie Shoes’, among many others), but also during this time KC was struggling with his sexuality whilst keeping the group together. Through it all he’s supported by his friends Dee (Paige Fenlon) and a very horny Gina (Annabelle Terry), and Orly (Adam Taylor) – who he has a very brief relationship with.
The show is all told and wrapped up in a very short 90 minutes as it takes place over a few short years – late 60’s and early 70’s Miami – and jumps through Harry’s timeline and memories (it was a 60 minute show at last years Edinburgh Fringe Festival), but within its first ten minutes, with the infectious music, it grabs us and keeps hold of us, toe tapping throughout. ‘Get Down Tonight’ glosses over many of the highlights of his and the bands existence, including nine number 1’s, many Grammy nominations and worldwide success. And it’s all told in an unusual narrative (with the characters talking to the audience), but it works because the acting is very good, the show is fun, and includes music that we all know and love (well for those of a certain age) – it’s music that is the soundtrack to our lives. It’s a fantastic trip down memory lane, and a celebration, to the 1970’s, with ‘Get Down Tonight.’
Photo by Danny Kaan Ross Harmon
For tickets and more info, please go to: https://charingcrosstheatre.co.uk/theatre/get-down-tonight