Review: Blood Brothers

Penned by playwright Willy Russell, Blood Brothers is one of the most popular British musicals of all time. Following a 25 year stint in the West End, the show is currently on tour and will run at the Wyvern Theatre from Monday 10th to Saturday 15th March - and is certainly not to be missed.

Blood Brothers tells the moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. 

Surprisingly I'd never seen Blood Brothers before Monday night, unlike many other musicals I wasn't aware of the majority of songs featured in the show, but this in no way hindered my enjoyment. The musical numbers cleverly weave in between the plot enhancing the drama to capture the character's true feelings. 

I'd been pre-warned that the show was a bit of a tearjerker, so I was pleasantly surprised by a number of comical moments throughout. However that said, tension and tears were rife as the show came to its dramatic end, with a shocking moment that made everyone in the theatre leap out of their seats. 

It wasn't surprising that the cast received a standing ovation, returning to the stage no fewer than 4 times to take their final bows. 

I couldn't fault any of the cast's performances, Maureen Nolan was exceptional as Mrs Johnstone, her liverpudlian accent didn't falter once. I was amazed by her ability to belt out song after song while still retaining her Scouse twang. 

Mickey (the twin who was kept) was superbly played by Sean Jones, no stranger to the role, he was particularly captivating when depicting his character as both a child and adolescent. Mark Hutchinson's portrayal of Eddie worked beautifully alongside Sean's to create a relationship that was both believable and reflective of the different worlds they grew up in. 

Having never seen the show before, my only disappointment was finding out how it ended during the opening scene. I'm fully aware though that this wouldn't have bothered people who had seen the show countless times - that said, the finale was still a heart wrenching affair.

Maureen sang her heart out during the final number and as she took her bows and the lights came up the audience were able to see the toll that her emotionally draining performance had had on her. 

I wish I had a previous experience to compare the show to, but I'd certainly be willing to see a different production at a later date. I'd whole heartedly will everyone in Swindon to catch this show while they've got the chance!