YOU just can’t keep a good show down.
Since its 1983 debut, Willy Russell’s award-winner has been faithfully doing the rounds and, nearly 30 years on, fans could probably claim to know these brothers better than their own.
The clothes might seem horribly dated and the set is never the most exciting, but there is something about Blood Brothers that really connects with an audience.
The story of twins separated at birth is a powerful one and it’s done full justice here by a cast led by Maureen Nolan, following in the footsteps of several of her sisters as the twins’ mother Mrs Johnstone, who used to look like Marilyn Monroe but is now a weary, debt-ridden single mum to a demanding brood on a Liverpool estate.
The twins are played by Sean Jones and Matthew Collyer, with Jones having the most scope in his role as Mickey, who draws us into his happy childhood (cue some lovely scenes with twin Eddie and pal Linda played by Kelly-Anne Gower) then troubled adulthood, by which time, his voice having changed en route, he’s like a different actor. We’re with him all the way.
An added attraction for many is Marti Pellow who’s taken time out of the West End run to join the touring show only for this Sunderland leg.
In the role of narrator, Pellow has good stage presence, as you’d expect from the former Wet Wet Wet frontman; lurking in the shadows as an ominous presence, like the superstitions that overshadow the characters’ lives.
He does a great job with those recurring – and increasing meaningful – songs such as Shoes Upon The Table and The Devil’s Got Your Number. Support is strong too and I enjoyed Graham Martin’s nicely-judged turns as a policeman and teacher.
As far as musicals go, this is probably about the least frothy you can get.
The end (which, for the few who haven’t seen it, I don’t want to spoil) leaves a tear in the eye.
And that’s before we’ve heard Mrs Johnstone’s emotionally-charged Tell Me It’s Not True.
The cast looked delighted at the standing ovation from the audience at the end, but it was well deserved.
Barbara Hodgson
