REVIEW: Blood Brothers

Willy Russell’s beloved musical Blood Brothers has made a comeback and is once again touring the UK, staged at The Lowry until Saturday 22 October.

Set in post-war 1960s Liverpool, the musical revolves around the tragic tale of two brothers, Mickey and Eddie, who were separated at birth and follows their journeys as they grow up in contrasting worlds.

The show delves into themes of social class and inequality, with the brothers each defined by their class which ultimately becomes the divide between them and the incentive for their downfall.

The protagonists of the show were played by Sean Jones and Jay Worley. Sean, playing the role of Mickey, provided us with an absolutely fascinating performance; I was in awe of his flawless ability to convincingly portray a 7-year-old child right through to adolescence and adulthood. His comical portrayal acting like a young boy with such endless energy, shooting guns, chasing his brother around and burying worms, to becoming a much more mature, withdrawn version of himself relying heavily on his medication was so realistic and heartbreaking.

Jay Worley, playing Eddie Lyons, perfectly communicated Eddie’s sheltered, naïve persona while introducing many discreet antic elements that had the audience roaring with laughter.

The Narrator (Richard Munday) is a constant presence on the stage, lurking in the background and watching as the scenes unfold – a silent reminder of the awful fate looming over the brothers.

Niki Colwell Evans, playing Mrs Johnstone, also brought an amazingly strong performance as a caring mother trying to hold her life together and struggling to make ends meet - her vocals were faultless and the emotion behind her role was so poignant & raw.

Bill Kenwright’s award-winning production of this classic musical proved to be an accomplished and entertaining production with tears of joy, sorrow and laughter. It was such an emotionally gripping show that I thoroughly enjoyed. A powerful rollercoaster that serves to captivate its audience.