'Blood Brothers' (along with 'Educating Rita' and 'Shirley Valentine') is one of Willy Russell’s best known pieces. Set in his hometown of Liverpool it is a classic, enduring,
hilarious and painfully sad piece for both professional and amateur theatres.
Available as a play and a musical, tonight’s performance was the latter. 'Blood
Brothers' premiered in the West End in 1983 and transferred to Broadway in 1993.
It closed in the West End in 2012 but has still continued its enduring success
as a touring production. It is one of the longest running West End musicals of
all time. The book, music and lyrics are all Russell’s.
The play explores the painful, heart-wrenching story of twin boys separated at birth by a mother who gives one away but whose lives collide again both in childhood and adulthood. One is brought up rich and the other poor. Russell’s story is based on one that he had read about; twins being separated at birth, and wondered what might have happened to them, which is the premise of the ancient nature/nurture argument and the inspiration of the plot.
The story centres around Mrs Johnstone who is pregnant with her 8th child, and her family are struggling. She then discovers it’s twins and strikes a deal with her employer, the wealthy Mrs Lyons, who is unable to conceive. The twins are born and named Michael and Edward. Mrs Johnstone makes a pact with Mrs Lyons to keep their agreement a secret by swearing on the bible. Of course, fate and serendipity intervene. Mickey and Eddie meet as 7-year-olds playing outside and they discover they have the same birthday and make a pact of their own to be ‘blood brothers.’ Mickey names his fraternal twin Eddie not knowing they are indeed blood brothers.
On a chilly, Tuesday evening, the Manchester leg of the tour opened to a packed house of appreciative theatre-goers for a two-week run at The Palace Theatre. There is a cult following of this show and I’m sure plenty of it's fans were in the auditorium. It’s also a set text for GCSE English so some large school groups were in also. Many famous names have played the lead roles in 'Blood Brothers'. Notably; four of the Nolan sisters have played Mrs Johnstone. The first Mrs Johnstone was Barbara Dickson.
This production was a rollercoaster of emotions from beginning to tragic end. It’s more a play with music as the musical numbers drive the narrative forward instead of waiting for audience applause to punctuate scenes. Every character was well developed and portrayed. Mrs Johnstone, played by X-Factor finalist Niki Evans, was a tour-de-force with a beautiful tone to her voice, a fine Scouse accent and an incredible belt creating a complex portrayal from working class, single mum, struggling to feed mouths to making the heart-breaking decision to give away one of her twins. Moving forwards to her final scene, where she is sobbing, heartbroken as both her sons are shot dead by each other, Evans was emotional and visibly moved as she sobbed in her final song ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’ . A top-drawer performance.
Her sons: Mickey and Eddie had a wonderful chemistry and were both completely able to portray their characters from age 7 to adulthood through their joyous physical theatre and exuberance. In their scenes, class differences showed no barriers to a friendship borne of higher and spiritual connections, they were both touching, highly entertaining and had the audience belly laughing. When Mickey teaches Eddie to spit, swear and ride an imaginary horse, the audience was laughing heartily. Josh Capper’s Mickey took us through his character’s journey from confident, devil-may-care youth to down-trodden, depressed and no-hope adult. A huge role played with aplomb. Eddie, the baby given away to the rich family, was played by Joel Benedict who was the foil to Act 1 Mickey. Initially, walking in Mickey’s confident shadow and aspiring to be just like him but with money, education and a better start in life, Eddie soon surpasses his birth twin. This is all to no avail when in the final scene both of the fraternal twins die – thus ending all sense of hope. A real tragedy unfolds in double-quick time. Benedict’s Eddie was uptight, twee and completely endearing. His relationship with Mickey felt organic and real.
Their love for their other childhood friend, Linda, who becomes their adult love, played by Carly Burns was a delight to watch. Burns played the young child Linda effortlessly and her mini-skirted 14-year-old was a retro masterclass. Her adult Linda showed the character’s downtrodden dowry of teen bride; giving up her own dreams when she gets ‘in the club’ and only has making the tea to look forward to. But, her love and care of Mickey gradually gets worn down by his addiction to antidepressants and she turns to Eddie for support in 'A Light Romance’ song.
The narrator was Robbie Scotcher who was suitably sinister and had a dark presence throughout as he narrated, watching and overseeing the proceedings as a reminder of choices, decisions and pacts made. Mrs Lyon’s characterisation was affable to begin with as she begs Mrs Johnstone to give her her baby but soon turned into something more dark and manipulative. Paula Tippenden’s Mrs Lyons’ controlling other mother was light yet dark; as she clutched and manipulated in a narcissistic manner throughout. All other characters were aptly and suitably cast to their characters and some scene stealing smaller roles of the milkman, the policeman, the teacher and the judge. The ensemble played all other minor roles with ease with most playing two or more parts.
Mickey’s bother Sammy (Pete Washington) gave a very good turn as a lunatic, sadistic older brother who is the cause for Mickey’s incarceration following a robbery gone bad. The scene where the children played was a particular highlight and throwback to playground games for anyone older than 30. The scene highlighted the violence, re-enactment of war, exploration of relationships and societal strata of childhood all in one musical number. Brilliant to watch.
The opening night was a real treat to watch and an experience I won’t easily forget and I am sure this tour will play to packed houses. The band was under the stage and played beautifully throughout under very tight musical direction. Not a single word of dialogue or lyric was lost and a credit to an A1 technical crew. A beautiful production of a classic play turned musical which will always hold questions of class, nature and nurture and what we become being dictated by birthright.
Did you ever hear the story of
the Johnstone twins?
As like each other as two new
pins.
Of one womb born, on the self-same
day.
How one was kept and the other
given away?
Reviewer - Kathryn Gorton
on - 15.2.22
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