I first saw Willy Russell’s “Blood Brothers” back in 1995. I went to London to visit my sister who had just moved to London a couple of months before. I have to say that I had not even heard of this musical until that time. She picked it because some decent Front Row Upper Circle tickets were available on the Saturday night, having tried the bigger shows such as Miss Saigon which were fully booked for nine months or more.
Anyway, we were certainly in for a treat, although the journey itself was rather hair-raising, as our taxi driver was a victim of mindless road rage (or maybe something more sinister, who knows), including being shunted from behind, many times. We managed to persuade him to stop and let us out at a petrol station, which he was reluctant to do in case they caught him. Anyway enough of that, we eventually found a black cab, and did make it to the show, having time for a stiff Brandy before the Curtain went up.
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The Phoenix Theatre is in the heart of London’s theatre district and is situated on Charing Cross Road, WC2. Blood Brothers first ever performance was actually at the Albery Theatre on 28 July 1988. The Phoenix Theatre itself opened in 1930 and its first performance was Noel Cowards Private Lives, which ran for 101 nights.
As well as performing at the Phoenix, there have been other showings of Blood
Brothers up and down the country, and I also went to see the show with my other sister in Manchester. And if it ever comes back to Glasgow/Edinburgh, then I my friend and my hubby both want to see it, so I could be in line for two more viewings! However, it is a fabulous show, and I will not get tired of it.
The Characters --------------- Mrs Johnstone; played by Stephanie Lawrence. Mrs Johnstone is one of the main characters and plays the Mother of several kids, in a depressed 1960’s Liverpool. Mrs Johnstone was played by Kiki Dee in the original Cast Recording.
Mickey and Eddie are the twins, Mrs Johnstone’s youngest children. Mrs Johnstone only brings up one of the boys, as the plot will reveal.
Mrs Lyons is a well to do lady who Mrs Johnstone cleans for. Mrs Lyons and her husband could not have kids.
Linda is a friend of Mrs Johnstone’s children and who has a major role in the musical.
We also meet Mr Lyons, more of Mrs Johnstone’s children and Miss Jones, who is a secretary at the factory.
The Story ---------- Act One opens with Mrs Johnstone reflecting on what might have been, had she not got married and had so many children. She tells us of the times when she used to “Go Dancin” and of a time when her relationship was a lot more romantic, and her husband said she was sexier than Marilyn Monroe. The scene is a terraced cobbled street in Liverpool, in a poor depressed neighbourhood, with lots of noise. The music starts off quite haunting and after several minutes, the first song “Tell me it’s not True” begins in the background, while the Narrator sets the story lines. Mrs Johnstone goes on to tell us how she fell pregnant very quickly and they had to get married quickly. No sooner than she had the first baby, then she was pregnant again, and the relationship began to fall apart. At 25 she had seven children and another on the way, when her husband walked out on her for another woman, attracted to her for the same things as he saw in his first wife.
Mrs Johnstone tells her employer that she is expecting twins and does not know how she will cope with two extra mouths to feed, and Mrs Lyons, the employer who is childless plants the idea that she will take one of the twins. In the song My Child, Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons both dream about the kind of life that the child could have, brought up in a beautiful home in a nice neighbourhood, making the assumption that this would mean he would not get into any trouble, and a pact is made. Mrs Lyons husband worked away most of the time, and she was able to con him into thinking she was pregnant.
The song Easy Terms paints the scenario about living on credit or the Never, Never; and draws a comparison with the new baby, who she will not have for long, being akin to only having catalogue goods for “borrowed time”.
The song Shoes upon the Table begins with Mrs Lyons scaring Mrs Johnstone into believing that if the brothers ever find out they are one of a twin, they will both be killed, and she should never come looking for her other twin. The music is quite fast and loud at this time, with the Narrator continuing with the threats Mrs Lyons started.
Eventually the two kids meet while out playing, and become friends. They discover their birthdays are the same day, and make a pact to become Blood Brothers. There is a great scene with Mickey’s brother Sammy and their friend Linda, together with Mickey (who remained with Mrs J), and Eddie (who Mrs Lyons took). Both mothers, having learned of this new friendship, tell the boys they should not play together but this does not stop them from meeting up during their growing up.
Act One ends with the fantastic upbeat song Bright New Day, with Mrs Johnstone and the whole cast. They are moving away to a new council house, at 65 Skelmersdale Lane, in the “country”, and signalling a new standard of life, after years in the terraced streets of Liverpool.
Act Two paints a much nicer scene with fields for the kids to play in, Mrs Johnstone has a new love in the Milkman, who treated her as her husband used to do, and things look much better, although one child accidentally burns the school down. Mickey is aged 14 at this stage and into girls, while the rest of the kids have moved out. Mrs Johnstone still thinks of Eddie, the child she gave away.
Although they have moved away, Eddie and Mickey still meet up, and their friendship has continued. The song That Guy is song by the two boys, and talks about what they admire about each other. The friendship with Linda has also blossomed throughout this time too. The song Summer Sequence takes us through the next few years of the threesome growing up, and relationship between Mickey and Linda blossoms, although the song “I’m not saying a word” lets us know that Eddie has feelings for Linda too.
Things start to go wrong, with the closing of a factory causing job losses, and subsequently Mickey gets involved in a robbery, which goes wrong, leaving Linda on her own, as Mickey is imprisoned, and starts to suffer from depression. Linda and Mickey have already married by this time, and we learn about Linda's feeling in all of this too.
The Ending ----------- I won’t tell you any more of the story so as not to spoil your enjoyment. Let’s just say it is pretty dramatic!
I absolutely love this musical. All the songs are fantastic and they tell a real story which isn’t too abstract or difficult to understand like some musicals can be. The musical is funny in places and really sad in parts too, causing you to shed a little tear at times. The music is haunting at times, and is extremely catchy. You can also purchase the CD recording of the First Night Cast to remind yourself of the story and hear the great music again. This is definitely one of the best musicals I have seen, and there have been several as my sisters and I have been trying to get to one or two shows a year since 1995! If you live near London, or you see this show coming to your local theatre, then treat yourself to some tickets, I am sure you will not be disappointed!
Helen Bradshaw
June 2002
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Jun 28th, 2002
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