the cast of Blood Brothers (Previous Production) Blood Brothers
Churchill Theatre
22nd February
4 Stars
As Billy Elliot is set to close over in the West End, it seems only appropriate that another 1980s tale of working class strife is about to hit the road and go on tour once more.
Blood Brothers is of course a highly successful production in its own right - it won the Olivier for Best New Musical in 1983 and its revivals have scooped numerous awards across the world.
The story is simple and yet ingenious; the poor and unfortunate Mrs Johnstone already has five children and is expecting twins. She cleans the house of the childless Mrs Lyons, who offers to illegally adopt one of the babies. Both mothers do their best to keep the twins apart, however despite their vastly different upbringings, they become friends and eventually ‘blood brothers’.
It is a deeply political play, examining the nature versus nurture argument and how a child’s circumstances can put them on the way to greatness or oblivion. It is also not afraid to embrace some wrenchingly bleak themes; the brilliant opening and closing sequences are some of the darkest that can be found in musical theatre.
The volume of tears shed around me at the Churchill Theatre suggests that Blood Brothers still packs a considerable punch. The score is still equally powerful with some of the big numbers, such as Tell Me It’s Not True, Miss Jones and Bright New Day retaining their emotion and humour.
However, it is very much of its time and there are elements of the script that have dated somewhat; especially the scenes where they talk about depression. The device of adults playing kids is initially jarring, although this does disappear over time as they ‘grow up’.
In many ways, the success of the production relies on the performances of the two brothers, Mickey and Eddie. Sean Jones has been playing the role of Mickey for many years and is regarded by many as the best ever performer in the role.
It is easy to see why; it is an exceptionally complex and layered performance, charting the character from loveable youngster to an essentially broken adult. Joel Benedict is also impressive as the well mannered but naïve Eddie. The pair have brilliant chemistry together and give the story most of its emotional heft.
Lyn Paul (formerly of the New Seekers) was an excellent Mrs Johnstone; matriarchal, flawed and yet authentically Scouse. Kristofer Harding was also a powerful narrator, looming over proceedings with menace.
These performances thrived despite some very patchy sound; there was a horrible tinny reverb on the audio, which rendered some of the lyrics totally inaudible. Andy Walmsley’s design is as functional as you might expect from a touring set, however conveys the urban grittiness of Thatcher-era Liverpool.
Blood Brothers is an all time classic, with a thrilling story and an atmospheric score. It is showing a few signs of wear and tear but some superb performances mean the tour is a must-see.
Danny Coleman-Cooke is an experienced writer, who covers news, sport and comedy for high-profile personalities and broadcasters. His speeches and scripts can be seen on stage, on primetime TV and in Parliament, broadcast to wide and diverse audiences. His experience includes writing for the BBC’s Have I Got News for You, Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage, and the Premier League’s live match commentary. He has also managed social media accounts for a number of major brands, including Tesco, The Guardian and the BBC. He's also a well-established speechwriter, scriptwriter and copywriter and has written for a wide range of famous faces in the world of politics and entertainment. He recently had his first theatrical credit, as co-writer of a musical adaptation of Beowulf, which toured the Midlands and was performed at the Royal Albert Hall. Danny is a huge theatre fan and was part of the writing team for the 2015 and 2016 Olivier Awards.
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