BLOOD BROTHERS (UK Tour) Review March 2013

Blood Brothers, the show that started it's life in school halls opened in the West End in 1983 and won that year's Olivier Award for Best New Musical. The production played more than 10,000 performances before closing in London at the Phoenix Theatre in November 2012. The UK tour however seems to be on the road incessantly.

Some of the cast from the 2012 UK Tour remain with the production whilst members of previous and  final West End cast now reprise their roles.

Maureen Nolan (Mrs. Johnstone) and Sean Jones (Mickey)

If you've seen Blood Brothers before the chances are you've seen a Nolan sister in the role of Mrs. Johnstone. Maureen, who had previously spent two years in the role at the Phoenix Theatre joins the 2013 tour as the superstitious mother of nine... that is of course, until she gives one away. Nolan gives a heart-wrenching performance who's evident sorrow is equalled in the harsh, coldheartedness of Tracy Spencer's Mrs. Lyons. The lonely housewife who cannot have children of her own convinces Mrs. Johnstone to give one of the twins to her. But you know what they say about twins secretly parted... if ever they find out the truth, they shall both immediately die. 

Sean Jones is Mickey and Mark Hutchinson is Eddie and has played the role in the West End, on tour, in Toronto and on Broadway for which he won the Drama Desk Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. What we have here are seasoned performers who understand every phase of the brothers' lives with initial humour and later desperation. Jones in particular wins audience affection with his "I wish I was our Sammy" speech. In the  meatier role of Mickey, Jones is also able to show his diversity through Mickey's adulthood decline into depression. 

Owing to the indisposition of Warwick Evans, the role of the Narrator is currently played by Tim Churchill who is the show's one man Greek chorus. He presents the themes of fate and superstition as he powerfully sings through Willy Russell's music and lyrics. Olivia Sloyan stands out as Mickey's girlfriend and eventual wife Linda as does Daniel Taylor who's presence is scarily commanding of the stage in the role of the aggressive and threatening Sammy.

As far as stage productions go, Blood Brothers is perhaps a dated production, but the themes and in particular, the song Just Another Sign Of The Times are unfortunately all too familiar and relevant today. Even though the eventual outcome has been set out from the start it doesn't stop your heart from beating tenfold as Mickey's gun shoots in the direction of his brother and childhood best friend. Better than a evening at Nymphomaniac Nights and Swedish Au-Pairs, a full standing ovation and applause long after the cast's third curtain-call, it's still like a first night.

On until Saturday 4th May at the Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, you can book tickets here. 

BLOOD BROTHERS (UK Tour) October 2012

Blood Brothers, the first ever show I saw in the West End returns to Birmingham again on a seemingly never-ending tour cycle. The current West End version of the show is due to close in just a few weeks time in November. Ending its run after 24 years at the Phoenix Theatre it begs the question of whether Blood Brothers has had it's day. The audience at the Birmingham Hippodrome last night received the show rather willingly and the home audience for Niki Evans in the role of Mrs Johnstone were a welcoming delight.

Niki Evans from the 2007 series of the X Factor only entered the competition after finding the application forms intended for her in her late father's belongings. Her heartfelt, emotional audition saw her through the early stages and flying into the live shows, finishing in the semi-final. It is exactly the type of pure emotion she expressed in song during her time on the X Factor that makes Niki the perfect casting for the iconic role of Mrs Johnstone - a role she first played in 2009 in the London production.

A mother of seven children at only 25, Mrs. Johnstone learns that she is expecting twins. Already unable to cope and through fear of having to foster away some of her children she finds herself pressured into giving away one of the twins to Mrs. Lyons (Tracy Spencer), a rich housewife unable to have children of her own. A superstitious prophecy is born that if ever the boys discover the truth that they shall both die. The two leading ladies are impressive and played the more dramatic moments with conviction which can be incredibly cheesy and cliché.

Blood Brothers has seen a fair share of famous faces during it's run, especially pop stars. The Nolan sisters are no strangers to the role of Mrs Johnstone and Spice Girl Mel C played a brief stint in London. Member of boy band Blue Anthony Costa has played Mickey in the past but for this tour, Marti Pellow the lead singer of Wet Wet Wet has joined the cast as the Narrator. I have always thought of the Narrator's part as unnecessary - a tough role to master. The Narrator awkwardly lurks around the stage, watching the action and interrupts scenes when they begin to get meaty. He acts almost as a conscience and is always there to warn. Marti Pellow is a stern and commanding narrator and evidently does his best. I'm not all together convinced however that his vocal style fits comfortably in the role.

Sean Jones and Jorden Bird are the ill-fated brothers, Mickey and Eddie. It always takes great skill for the actors to convincingly portray the brothers at various ages in their life. Both manage their characters expertly and are both humorous as youngsters. They capture the different ages with clarity and ensure echoes of their childhood mannerisms are reflected in their later performance as men. When we meet the boys for the first time they are dolls wrapped in blankets but at age seven we see them meet each other, make friends and discover they have the same birthday - the story follows them through to adulthood with a dramatic climax, seeing Mrs Lyons' prophecy come true. 

In all, this production of Blood Brothers is well worth the night out. It's funny, full of energy and then dramatically tense the story becomes more despairing. I'm not sure it is a tear-jerking as perhaps it once was but what it is, is full of heart.

The current tour plays at the Birmingham Hippodrome until Saturday 3rd November and you can book tickets here: http://birminghamhippodrome.com/whatson_focus.asp?showid=1736