Blood Brothers - The Gaiety Theatre

Written by: Willy Russell
Directed by: Bob Tomson & Bill Kenwright
Featuring: Rebecca Storm, Keith Burns, Sean Jones, Drew Ashton, Tracy Spencer Linzi Matthews, Barry Sloane, Leigh Jones, Matt Slack, Amy O'Neill, Phillip Maggs, Karl Geenwood, Lisa Taylor Roberts & Rob Hughes

http://www.gaietytheatre.ie/

*****

Blood Brothers, one of the most successful musicals in history, has meandered its way back for another run in the Gaiety Theatre. Willy Russell's 1980s, multi-award winning play tells the story of the Liverpudlian Johnstone twins - seperated at birth, and raised on opposite sides of the tracks - one going on to become a well spoken graduate, the other headed for factory work and prison. Both tragically destined to meet their end together.

Rebecca Storm again plays the part of Mrs Johnstone, the maternal mother of the children. Scraping to make ends meet in the early 60s, with an army of already hungry mouths and Mr Johnston skipped town with a younger model; she finds herself pregnant with the twins around the same time she lands a cleaning job in the plush residence of the upper class Mrs Lyons (Tracy Spencer). The barren Lyons aches for a child of her own, and with a husband that is away on business, savvy cogs begin to turn. Desperation paints a pretty, but terribly twisted picture for both women - one can provide the money, the other the child...from the very beginning the play is saturated with this concept of dualism and opposites - with dilemma and superstition.

The set is beautifully realised - and opens with a literally jaw-dropping light effect where the Liverpool skyline appears like a darkroom picture being gradually developed. Red brick walls and grand grey houses; weighed down washing lines and rich carpets and settees - the conveyance of both working class, and upper class Liverpool are brilliantly achieved.

The young Mickey (Sean Jones) growing up in a crowded council house, unwittingly befriends his affluent brother Eddie (Drew Ashton) and quickly become best friends, and then, cutting their hands in an old childhood pact, blood brothers. The divide between their two lives serves as poignant social commentary, which can be appreciated in Dublin as much as any growing city. Sean Jones pulls off the role of Mickey’s delinquent older brother, while Linzi Matthews is memorable as Linda – the girl that both brothers have an interest in.

Storm’s performance is once again incredibly powerful and mesmerising. And the childhood and teenage antics of the boys certainly distracts us from the rather grim opening, and the inevitable ending. Keith Burns is a constant presence onstage; playing the sharp suited narrator – reminiscent of Bowie during his Tin Machine phase – Burns effectively acts as a conscience to both mothers through the play. His duets with Storm certainly make for some of the most visceral moments in the close to the three-hour show.

Blood Brothers is very difficult to criticise. It offers a vivid, energetic show; an excellent, celebrated score; a plot that is at once enjoyable, and thought provoking; and a stellar cast and set. I’ve been avoiding blurting out the words ‘must’ and ‘see’, but they are somewhat unavoidable...You shouldn't miss this.