Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers - Greasepaint and Stage Lights - Theatre Radio Show

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Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers (UK Tour)

Waterside Theatre (Aylesbury)

(Review Complete)

"A classic Tear Jerk of a production"

Review

I last saw Blood Brothers (the musical version) in about 1985 when it was new and fresh. I have since seen an amateur production of the play and remember the story well. Although it is firmly set in the 80’s (no mobile phones or internet for example) for me this current production was fresh and remains relevant.

We know how it ends (no spoilers) as it opens with two young men walking to the stretchers on the floor surrounded by other cast members and their mothers grieving with a little snippet of the best known song in the show, Tell Me It’s Not True. Then we rewind to before they were born and Mrs Johnstone (Vivienne Carlyle) setting the scene in the song Marilyn Monroe, a recurring device for moving the story on.

In addition to the Marilyn Monroe tune we are assisted by the Narrator (Sean Keany), who lurks in dark places, often in poetry and sometimes in song as well. Others in the play include the eponymous pair, a second set of parents, an older sibling and the love interest as well as minor parts played by the rest of the cast.

I thought the whole production was excellent and was particularly taken with the performances of Mickey (Sean Jones) and Linda (Gemma Brodrick). Sean Jones has apparently been touring the role of Mickey for 25 years and yet still manages to act him well and keep it completely fresh. I loved the darkness of the other Sean (Keany) as the Narrator. He didn’t attempt a scouse accent but kept his natural Irish which fitted well and had a beautiful singing voice.

Although Carlyle acted Mrs Johnstone well I felt her singing was rather forced, in both sound and vision, until the end when she finally relaxed into the drama and sadness of it all.

Despite knowing and being prepared for the tragic ending it still ‘got’ me and the repercussions around the auditorium were palpable. The standing ovations were well deserved and I thoroughly recommend this production to all.

Reviewer: Emily Culverhouse.

We are Gifted tickets so that in return we may give an honest review. All comments are those of the reviewer and theirs alone.