Blood Brothers (The Play) – Daneside Theatre, Congleton

Bringing to the stage the play version of this tale, written by Willy Russell for Merseyside Young People’s Theatre in the early 1980’s, with the pre-requisite that the play must be only 70 mins long; a five hander with no set; and very little lighting as it was to be performed in a school hall.  This short play version of Blood Brothers was later lengthened into the Musical that most of us know, and began touring in 1983, with the star of the show – Barbara Dickson.

Congleton Players along with director Louise Colohan, have given this play a re-birth, bringing this 1980’s idea into the 21st century.  For those who do not know the story, the tale begins with Mrs Johnstone (Sarah Francis) being swept off her feet by her husband (Andrew Bours), but when children arrive in very quick succession, she is left to take care of them alone, after her husband leaves her.  Struggling to make ends meet, Mrs Johnstone takes a cleaning job in the household of Mrs Lyons (Jennifer Haney), knowing that she is already pregnant with yet another child.  When Mrs Johnstone reveals that she is expecting twins, the childless Mrs Lyons offers to raise one of the children as her own, but what begins as a seemingly emotionless transaction, soon stirs up emotions which ends in tragedy.

The storyline could be written by Shakespeare!  Two children born in poverty, raised in different social classes, with Mickey (Michael Shneck) remaining with his siblings and brought up by his natural mother, and Edward (Sam Hands) or Eddie (as Mickey calls him), is brought up by the wealthy Mr & Mrs Lyons.  The dramatic nature of this play is lightened with comedy which is carried off well by these seasoned performers.  The writing highlights the cyclical nature of the Johnstone’s life, as Mrs Johnstone struggled to manage her financial situation; so then does Mickey’s wife years later as she is left begging the housing department to find her family a home.  There are many emotions at play here, Mickey (Shneck) and Linda (Sophie Meggitt) leads us from their love blossoming, into Mickey’s despondence at losing his job, and his hurt pride and jealousy, when Linda seeks solace in a friendship which she keeps to herself.  The paranoia of Mrs Lyons, whose deception is eating away at her, for fear that Edward could be taken away from her.

The success of this production is in the ability of the cast, crew and director, to draw the audience into the emotional rollercoaster of the storyline, and in this, the production scores top marks.  The direction, and performances are top quality.  There were a couple of small things that could be tweaked – the scene changes were a little slow, and the lighting needs to be more accurate. These are minor things, and in a professional show the previews would allow time to make these adjustments; this in no way takes the spotlight from this very enjoyable production.

Overall, the Congleton Players have put on a hell of a show.  Don’t miss this, it runs until the 11^th February 2023 at the Daneside Theatre.  For tickets go to – https://www.congletonplayers.com/

Reviewer: Caroline Worswick

Reviewed: 7^th February 2023

North West End UK Rating: ★★★★