Blood Brothers tells the story of twin boys, who are separated as infants when their struggling mother, Mrs Johnstone (Vivienne Carlyle), heartbreakingly gives one away to her wealthy employer, Mrs Lyons (Sarah Jane Buckley). Hoping for a better life and a brighter future for them all, the women vow to keep the truth hidden. Raised on opposite sides of the tracks, Micky (Sean Jones) and Eddie (Joe Selight) experience life in vastly different ways, yet are still drawn together after a chance encounter.
Blood Brothers treads a fine line between being a full-fledged musical and a play with music. Ultimately, it leans more toward the latter, a choice that works brilliantly with the music lending itself perfectly the narrative. Willy Russell's writing (both book and music) packs an emotional punch, even if it feels a little too obvious at times. Given the subject matter, it could’ve been written purely with grit. However, Russell’s poetic script is wickedly funny, knowing exactly when to tone it down and up.
Whilst the performances are superb across the board, Vivienne Carlyle steals the show with her heart-wrenching rendition of ‘Tell Me Its Not True.’ This is undoubtedly one of the greatest closing numbers in musical theatre history, and it is delivered flawlessly by Carlyle as we feel Mrs. Johnstone’s every emotion. Veteran of the show Sean Jones delivers a standout performance as the rough-and-ready Mickey, and his on-stage chemistry with Joe Selight as Eddie is grippingly good.
The set itself transports you to the streets of 1950s Liverpool, with the narrative itself spanning until the early 1980’s. By modern standards (and expectations) the set does admittedly feel a little tired, but this is far from a show that needs a flashy set to carry it. Often hailed as ‘the standing ovation musical’, Blood Brothers continues to earn its accolade 41 years after its West End debut. In a time where standing ovations are almost routine, Blood Brothers reminds us why they should be reserved for something truly special.
Blood Brothers remains at Manchester Palace Theatre until Saturday 30 November 2024.
Note: My ticket was gifted. Irrespective of whether a show is gifted or bought, I always ensure that my reviews are fair and based on my honest opinion alone.