Review: Blood Brothers

Apr 25 2008 by James Cuff, Western Mail

New Theatre, Cardiff

DID you ever hear about the Johnstone twins? asks the narrator in the opening lines of Willy Russell's acclaimed tale, Blood Brothers.

Although I had already seen the production once before, I was keen to catch the 20th anniversary tour, which arrived at the New Theatre in Cardiff this week.

And it was certainly given overwhelming approval by both young and old alike.

Set in Liverpool, Blood Brothers is the tale of twin brothers separated at birth whose bond can seemingly never be broken.

Their mother Mrs Johnstone, wonderfully played by Linda Nolan, simply cannot afford to keep the pair of them being a single parent on the breadline with seven mouths to feed already.

Her wealthy employer Mrs Lyons, who is unable to bear children, concocts a plan to benefit them both by asking Mrs Johnstone to give her one of the babies.

Mrs Johnstone reluctantly agrees but the knowledge that one of her sons will have a life she would never be able to provide sways her decision.

The play successfully examines the differences in class and follows the two boys, Mickey and Eddie, living their separate lives yet whose inextricable bond draws them together.

Mickey, played by an engaging Sean Jones, stays with his mother in a working class Liverpool estate while Eddie, played by an equally impressive Simon Willmont, is brought up by the middle-class Lyons family.

A chance meeting early on finds the boys becoming friends, and later blood brothers, despite their obvious differences.

Their relationship in the first half of the show propels the momentum with many laugh-out-loud moments. These humorous interchanges only make the heartbreaking second half more tragic.

The acting is exemplary throughout the production, from the established leading players to the lesser known performers, and is a credit to the directing team of Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright. This was particularly the case in the final gripping minutes.

Although the play begins at the story’s end, its climax provides a shock to many and as the cast left to a standing ovation, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house, including a very emotional Linda Nolan.

If you’ve never heard of the Johnstone twins, I’d highly recommend going to see this show – you won’t be disappointed.

The show runs until May 3. The box office number is 029 2087 8889

4/5