Blood Brothers 2024

 

Review by Paul Towers, 23/4/24

Blood Brothers by Willy Russell

Directed by Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright

Produced by Bill Kenwright Ltd

At Curve til Saturday 27 th April 2024

“ the perfect piece of musical theatre”

Set in 1960’s Liverpool Blood Brothers is Willy Russell’s contribution to the nature vs nurture debate. First created as a school play (and still used as a prescribed play for GCSE English Literature) it was then sent to London’s West End in 1983 for a short run. Five years later it was revived in London and ran for 10,000 performances until 2012. Since then it has toured extensively and has become a cult classic, as was witnessed at last night’s Press Night when hordes of very vocal young audience members showed their delight in the well deserved multiple curtain calls and standing ovation.

Very simply Blood Brothers tells the story of twin boys, Michael and Edward, separated at birth to be brought up at opposite ends of the social scale and how one soars while the other fails.

The boys’ mother, Mrs Johnstone (Niki Colwell Evans) falls pregnant at the drop of a hat and as a single mother finds that having twins to add to her brood would be beyond her means. The woman she cleans for, Mrs Lyons (Sarah Jane Buckley) is desperate for a baby so a deal is struck whereby she takes one of the twins when they are born. So Edward (Joe Sleight) is taken to live in middle class luxury while Mickey (Sean Jones) languishes in the poverty of his birth home.

Superstition says that if twins are separated at birth then they should never be told. If they find out then they will both die. Nonsense of course but both women abide by it.

Coincidentally the boys come into contact with each other and become best friends. To try and avoid the curse Mrs Lyons persuades her husband (Tim Churchill) to move away. Unfortunately the Johnstone’s street is due to be demolished and the Council rehomes them on a brand new estate which is near the Lyon’s new home.

To add to all their worries the boys both fall in love with the same girl, Linda (Gemma Brodrick) and it causes their blood brotherhood to be fractured and ultimately leads to their deaths.

Sean Jones as Mickey brings a wealth of physical comedy to the role, especially as a 7 year old, but is equally effective as the broken adult Mickey as he descends into depression.

Blood Brothers is, to my mind, the perfect piece of musical theatre. It has a beautiful story, hummable songs and a moral. The text, lyrics and music by Willy Russell are in turn hilarious and poignant. Niki Colwell Evans’ Mrs Johnstone breaks your heart as she mourns the loss of both her sons in the final number. The set by Andy Walmsley and lighting by Nick Richings are astounding.

There are very few seats available for the rest of the run. Call the box office. You may be lucky.

www.curveonline.co.uk

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