Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is back and it’s back with a bang. In the 40 years since the show was first performed in Liverpool, Blood Brothers has garnered global acclaim and success. The themes are broad – the class divide, nature versus nurture, poverty, friendship, sibling rivalry, family relationships. Twins Mickey and Eddie are born to working class mother Mrs Johnstone, already a mother of five, who is struggling to feed and clothe them all. Living on the “never-never”, she has bailiffs at the door, so in the depths of her despair, she agrees to give up one of the new-borns to the wealthy Mrs Lyons who has been unable to have children. Mrs Lyons has one major condition in this arrangement; the boys must never find out that they are brothers. As the tale unfolds of the brothers’ very different lives, Mickey a scruffy kid in handed down clothes, Eddie smartly dressed and well-spoken, they accidentally meet and become best friends, the “blood brothers” of the title. They grow up, grow apart and eventually develop a deadly rivalry that can only end in tragedy. This all sounds very dark, but Blood Brothers also has its fair share of humour, especially from the children.
Niki Evans’ Mrs Johnstone is a force of nature, desperately poor and struggling but doing the best she can for her children. Evans came to fame through X Factor, making it to the semi-final with vocals that Louis Walsh described as “effortless”. He was certainly right about that. Evans’ voice is strong and beautifully pitched with a rich tone. She takes on this role with total credibility, giving Mrs Johnstone strength and vulnerability through her desperation. It’s an impressive performance. In fact, the entire company is excellent, with some taking on multiple roles with ease. Paula Tappenden plays the fragile Mrs Lyons with great sensitivity, as her fears grow that Mrs Johnstone will steal Eddie back from her. The parts of the children are all played by adults and while it’s initially a somewhat tough call to accept that Sean Jones is a seven-year-old, his irrepressible charm and childish mucking about eventually break through that disbelief. Mickey’s later grown-up descent into depression and paranoia after a stint in prison is sensitively portrayed and makes you want to get up there and give him a hug. Joel Benedict plays a fine posh Eddie, not allowed to play with the working-class boy, but defying his mother. The contrast between the boys is well defined and their relationship is totally convincing.
Bob Tomson’s direction makes the most of the cast’s formidable talents and the set design by Andy Walmsley takes the audience believably to the grimy streets of Liverpool and the smart living room of the Lyons family. A couple of clunky set changes aside, it’s a well-paced, well-produced and slick show. The band, under the musical direction of Matt Malone, perfectly underscores the performance.
A production full of energy, fire, heart and emotion, Blood Brothers is a modern classic with themes that continue to resonate. It’s no surprise that the audience is on its feet wherever it plays.
Blood Brothers is at the New Wimbledon Theatre until 12th February and then continues on tour until 3rd September. Tickets are available from: https://www.atgtickets.com/shows/blood-brothers/
Reviewer: Carole Gordon
Reviewed: 8th February 2022
North West End UK Rating: ★★★★