Relevant Casting Or Big Name? - Blood Brothers

I think Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers is a brilliant show however, these days, audiences tend to be filled with sycophants who love this show so much that they have seen it five or six times and will probably see it as many again.

How then can you review it objectively? Simple, take a Blood Brothers virgin who has never seen it, comes from another country and is clueless as to who are the celebs (Lyn Paul as Mrs Johnstone) and who are the jobbing actors (rest of cast!).

“Why have they got a pregnant old woman?” was the first comment at the interval.

Lyn Paul is now in her 70’s and has to play a pregnant Mrs Johnstone and, whilst she is still a great performer, there comes a time when the actor has to say with confidence: “I am too old to play this role.” I think she now is and, whilst this, I believe is her Blood Brothers swan song, it is a shame that Lyn Paul is still playing this part, prompting what might sound like my cruel words.

Blood Brothers tells the story of twins separated at birth when two mothers make a pact. Childless Mrs Lyons raises Eddie whilst Mrs Johnstone, already mother to an expansive brood, holds on to Mickey.

The former is well educated and does well in life, the latter, ends up on anti-depressants, his life falls apart and, somehow, their lives end tragically as they began: on the same day.

Blood Brothers had shaky beginnings, certainly in the West End where it returned after a two year lull because, initially, London audiences did not ‘get it’.

However, it is now a tried and tested formula and there are few changes from production to production because, dare I say it, it is almost perfect.

Robbie Scotcher as Narrator was great – I last saw him in 2019 – and I warmed to Alexander Patmore as Mickey, also thoroughly enjoying ‘posh’ brother Eddie, played perfectly by Joel Benedict.

Nit picking to one side, it was a strong, complementary cast and I could pontificate all day about Blood Brothers: tug a bit here and tug a bit there but, by and large, it is and remains a brilliant show.

Having seen it probably half a dozen times now I suppose that I too must qualify as a sycophant. I did enjoy Lyn Paul’s performance and everyone else’s and, as I have advised in the past, you should go and see it if you haven’t done so already, and if you are a ‘regular’ then you know what you are about to get and I need say no more.

Blood Brothers
Alhambra, Bradford
Until Saturday October 23rd