THEATRE REVIEW: Blood Brothers - The Lowry Theatre, Salford.

The perennial favourite that is Willy Russell's 'Blood Brothers' is back again, and this time Bill Kenwright's production has a few differences from previous productions. It's highly emotive and much darker than I have seen before. 

Something like a Greek tragedy mixed with a Hollywood movie, this new production makes sure that every single word in every sentence is given due weight and emphasis, creating tension and suspense throughout; especially from the malevolent narrator, Richard Munday. In places this works well, but overall, it has the effect of manipulating the audience's emotional response, and instead of just letting the story tell itself, the lighting, sound, effects, and direction all combine to give you more than several unwanted and unnecessary thriller-esque moments, and at one point I swear I could hear the music give the thudding opening beats to the 'Eastenders' theme...!

Let none of that diminish the performances given by this evening's press night cast though. Several groups of teenage schoolchildren were in the audience this evening (is it on the current syllabus?), and they, as well as everyone else, absolutely loved the show, especially all the awkward and comedic teenage love / sex scenes and references. And the entire cast totally deserved their long and appreciative standing ovation this evening. The commitment from the team and their energy and emotion was palpable, even across to the centre of the stalls where we were. 

Sean Jones has returned one final time to play a part that he has embodied perhaps more than any other actor, the role of one of the twins, Mickie. This is now the third time this particular reviewer has seen Jones in this role, and he just gets better at it each time. Playing opposite him in this production was Jay Worley as his upper-middle-class twin Eddie, and Carly Burns as 'girlfriend' Linda. Their aging on stage was excellently measured and Burns especially I thought managed this with such ease, transforming from an 8 year old, through to 14, and then on to late teens and adulthood with aplomb. In fact Burns's interpretation of this role was the best I have thus far seen. (in my humble opinion!)

However, almost completely stealing the show (in a good way), was the amazing tour-de-force that was Niki Colwell Evans as Mrs. Johnstone, the twins' mother. Her emotional and emotive portrayal was simply electric; sympathetically and simplistically portrayed, we saw a raw and yet very real performance from a lady who could sing beautifully and yet be screaming with anguish at the same time... which takes a lot of doing!

And with such a talented and proficient cast, it seemed like over-egging the custard not to simply allow the story to tell itself. Each time we had a directed "dun-dun-der" moment, it dimished the final tragedy and therefore the story as a whole.

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 18.10.22