Blood Brothers At Nottingham Theatre Royal Review

Reviewed by H Whetton

Wow! Blood Brothers what can I say, it is a simple story of two families from different socio-economic classes, with absolutely nothing in common. It is emotionally charged from the very first scene, great humour, and a fantastic musical score. It is hard to write a review without giving bits of the storyline away, so I apologise in advance for any spoilers. Mrs Johnstone is struggling to get by, she cannot afford to feed her seven children a decent meal and her children are always in trouble. To make things worse her husband just walked out on her. Then there’s Mr and Mrs Lyons, wealthy, owns their own business, nice house, nice area, but the husband works away a lot, and they are desperate for children however, find they cannot.

The play opens with one of my favourite songs ‘Tell me it’s not true’ sung by Niki Colwell Evans who plays Mrs Johnstone. It swiftly moves on to show Mrs Johnstone who is working for Mrs Lyons. However, she has found out that she is pregnant just after her husband has left her. There is a really funny scene where Mrs Lyons puts new shoes on the table and Mrs Johnstone comes rushing in panicking over the shoes being on the table, whilst denying she is superstitious. Mrs Johnstone is in shock the next day with the news that she is carrying twins. This is where your moral judgement and ideals may differ. The one thing Mrs Lyons wants is a child, the one thing Mrs Johnstone has is more than enough of them. A plan is hastily hatched by Mrs Lyons playing on Mrs Johnston’s emotional and financial circumstances along with her superstitions and religious beliefs. Mrs Johnstone begrudgingly agrees that it is best if one of the twins goes to live with the Lyon’s. The next couple of scenes are heart wrenching and emotional, no matter how your morals are sitting it is hard not to feel the pain Mrs Johnstone is going through. Nikki Colwell Evans plays an incredible part, such emotion in her whole demeanour and voice. The narrator played by Danny Whitehead leads the story whilst being both women’s subconscious mind through songs like “Shoes on the table”, yet another great song. He does a wonderful job of keeping the emotion going and reminding the audience of what the women have done.

The twins played by Sean Jones (Mickey Johnstone) and Joe Sleight (Edward Lyons) were so funny as they portrayed the twins as young children. There is a great scene where Mickey is talking to the audience about how he is not ‘seven he’s nearly eight’ and wants to be like his big brother Sammy because he can do anything because is ten. The boys were never meant to meet but children will be children as they don’t care about class in society, only who has got a football or sweets. The two boys become best friends, ‘Blood Brothers’, much to the dismay of their respective parents. Mrs Lyons is convinced there is a plot to take Edward away and starts to suffer with her mental health, so much so that they move away from the city leaving the boys torn apart once again.

Paula Tappenden played the part of Mrs Lyons really well. I just could not feel as sorry for her as I did for Mrs Johnstone as it was her idea in the first place. You know it is a great play and performance when you become invested in the characters being portrayed on stage. In their teenage years Mrs Johnstone is rehoused into the country and the boys meet up again. The second half of the play is when the boys are around eighteen. Edward is at university, oblivious to the socio- economic crisis that was going on, did not really have any idea around money because he had always had it. Whereas Mickey had lost his job, no job equals no money. Edward secured an excellent job with the council, however by this point Mickeys fun loving character has changed. He is suffering from depression and addicted to his medication. He plays the part really well. Then the play takes its final toll on Mickey and Edward with disastrous consequences. Once again Mrs Johnstone is singing ‘Tell me it’s not true’ joined in by cast members. The curtain is drawn in on the evening. The curtains opened to a well-deserved standing ovation. Would I see this play again definitely.

Rating: 4/5.
Nottingham theatre Royal concert hall, Theatre square, Nottingham, NG1 5ND
Box Office – 0115 9895555
Website – trch.co.uk
Ticket prices range from £ 21.00 – £ 45.50.