Blood Brothers

When I first saw Willy Russell's Blood Brothers at De Montfort Hall, Leicester in 1998 I thought it was the most perfect piece of musical theatre. Five years on it is STILL resident in London's West End; it is STILL touring the UK to sell out audiences; and it is STILL the most awesome piece of theatre I have seen. Staged very simply on a single set the story of twin boys, born into poverty-stricken Liverpool, separated at birth to grow up at opposite ends of the social spectrum only to 'find' each other in tragic circumstances has become a masterclass in theatre writing by one of this generation's master craftsmen. Over the years it has become something of a tradition that one member or other of the Nolan family stars as the mother. This time round it is Denise, and a very good job she makes of the perrenially single mother who drags her brood from the poverty of the city to the poverty of the country.
Whilst the entire cast, many doubling and trebling the parts they play, gives their all, it is Christopher Warburton, playing Mickey, who steals the show (and that is some accomplishment!). My only gripe would be that Keith Burns, the narrator, tends to lose some of his lines in his thick Scouse accent.

Blood Brothers plays at DeMontfort Hall until April 26th, catch it if you can and you won't be disappointed.

© Paul Towers 15/4/2003