Blood Brothers – The Bristol Hippodrome

Writer, Music & Lyrics: Willy Russell

Directors: Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright

Reviewer: Robin King

The Public Reviews Rating:

Blood Brothers is a simple tale to be told. It’s certainly not a happy one but it is by no doubt captivating. Willy Russell has created a powerful narrative of two brothers separated at birth whose eventual fates play out before you to a shared inescapable tragic destiny.

It’s been described as the musical that’s loved by people who hate musicals. This is easily explained as at the heart of this production is a story that you are impelled to hear, you yearn for good fortune to intervene and change the course of events. Sadly, with every step taken, every word spoken, every song sung the inevitable draws closer and closer leaving you with no option but to observe helplessly as their providence dramatically concludes. Now in its 28^th year, Russell’s raw observations of family hardship set in a city rife with unemployment, living on the never-never and class divide ironically seems all too relevant again in today’s current economic climate. It certainly doesn’t take a dramatic mind shift to recognise and identify with the heartache of these desperate individuals as they carve their paths through life.

Maureen Nolan’s stalwart portrayal of Mrs Johnstone, the mother of these fateful boys, carries a truly tangible emotion. Her opening lines “Tell me it’s not true, say it’s just a story” echo throughout as she battles with her soul-searching conscience, never knowing if she was to blame. As the audience rose in a unified standing ovation, her tears on stage were matched by many as they enthusiastically showed their appreciation for such a heartfelt performance.

We are introduced to Mickey played by Sean Jones and Eddie played by Matthew Collyer, from the age of seven as their lives intertwine emotionally, unaware of their physical bond. You bare witness to their blissfully innocent childhood hopes and dreams with the heavy burden of their secret hiding behind every corner, in the guise of the foreboding Narrator, sinisterly played by Craig Price. Kelly-Anne Gower’s role as Linda introduces a love interest for both boys, highlighting their blundering naivety as they all come of age.

Playground chants and superstitions are threaded throughout in an empty hope that crossing your fingers or avoiding new shoes on the table will protect you from your reckoning day. As the narrator commands in vocal acclaim “The Devil’s got your number, he’s going to find you” and you’re left in no uncertainty that all involved will eventually pay a heavy price.

The entire cast of this production offer an unquestionable performance, where black humour goes hand in hand with raw reality, compelling you to testify to their painful despair. Nature or nurture? You decide, but you’re guaranteed you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll question and discuss but above all you are sure to be moved. It would take a hard heart not to be touched as the full company perform their final emotional power punch as the curtain falls.