Written by Willy Russell and set in Liverpool in the 1960s, this musical will take you on a whole rollercoaster of emotions.
For those unaware of the story, Blood Brothers tells the tale of the Johnstone twins who lead very different lives after being separated at birth, only learning they are twin brothers shortly before their death. The audience gets a glimpse of what is to come, with a prologue showing the final scene right at the beginning of the production.
A key element of the performance is the narrator, played by Scott Anson. Always present, Anson turns in a brilliant performance alongside the rest of the cast.
Niki Colwell Evans gives a stunning performance as Mrs Johnstone, the struggling single mother, whose husband leaves her when the going gets tough. She is left with seven children and pregnant with the twins. Her performances of Marilyn Monroe and Tell Me It’s Not True are exceptional.
Mrs Johnstone gets a cleaning job working for Mrs Lyons, played by Sarah Jane Buckley (best known for playing Kathy Barnes in Hollyoaks), who has a really strong singing voice. My Child was a standout for me sung by Evans and Buckley.
The two women agree to make a pact to separate the twins. Mrs Johnstone soon lives to regret the decision, but she has sworn on the bible and can’t go back. Mickey stays with his mother and Eddie is brought up by the wealthy Mrs Lyons. They agree never to tell the boys, but the twins find each other and discover they have a lot in common, including their birthday. They agree to become Blood Brothers.
Mickey, played by Sean Jones puts in a really strong performance as a carefree seven year old child, captivating the audience with his antics. As he grows older, he becomes more insecure and eventually gets hooked on prescription drugs after ending up in prison. Jones really embodies this character and is so believable, your heart goes out to him and the situation he finds himself in.
Joe Sleight manages to capture the wide eyed, innocent Eddie who emerges into the more confident twin perfectly. Linda, played by Gemma Brodrick and Sammy, played by Timothy Lucas, are equally well cast, delivering strong performances, with Brodrick as the twins’ best friend, eventually marrying Micky, and Sammy, the older brother who leads Mickey into trouble.
The set is just perfect for this performance, with backgrounds changing, but not interrupting the flow of the performance. I loved the little details like the washing line being pulled out across the street, the inside of Mrs Lyon’s ‘posh’ house, and the council meeting room with its wood panelling. The lighting was exceptional, mirroring the mood of the cast.
Even though I’ve seen Blood Brothers before, I was not prepared for the ending which made me almost jump out of my chair. I am not embarrassed to say the tears flowed soon after, especially when watching Niki Colwell Evans deliver the aforementioned Tell Me It’s Not True. The entire auditorium stood to give this cast a well deserved standing ovation.
★★★★★
Blood Brothers is at Curve until Saturday April 27. Limited tickets available.
ACCESS PERFORMANCES
Captioned: Thu 25 Apr, 7.30pm
Captioner: Stagetext– Sarah Easton
Audio Described: Sat 27 Apr, 2.15pm with Touch Tour from 12.45pm
Audio Describers: Talking Sense – Nadine Beasley and Kate Taylor-Davies
Please note: The show includes firearms, gunshots, haze, and depictions of mental illness.
