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Willy Russell's Blood Brothers is excellent when performed well on stage. Whilst reading the play will leave a more shallow impression, if it's the only exposure you're likely to get then it's worth the effort to read it. Over the last decade or two it has been accepted as an exam text ... Read review
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Advantages: A great play Disadvantages: The text alone isn't enough - go and see it!
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Willy Russell's Blood Brothers is excellent when performed well on stage. Whilst reading the play will leave a more shallow impression, if it's the only exposure you're likely to get then it's worth the effort to read it. Over the last decade or two it has been accepted as an exam text and studied at GCSE level and it stands up well to scrutiny.
The basic tale is that of twin brothers and their mother who is forced through ... ...the growth of the boys and how their paths cross, all the time shrouded in superstition and fear. From the moment she gives up Edward, Mrs Johnstone regrets it but realises, too late, that she has sealed an undesirable fate for the boys when she is told:
"You do know what they say about twins, separated at birth? They say that if either twin ever learns he was once one of a pair they shall both immediately die."
... more
Despite how many schools insist that pupils read plays, a play is not a written work, it is intended for performance. However, the factors involved in putting on a performance are many and varied and part of the magic of theatre is that no two shows will be identical. For this reason, although a review may give a good indication of the experience of a show, it's no reliable guideline for how well the show will be received by future audiences. It is, therefore, a valid exercise to review the text objectively.
Willy Russell's Blood Brothers is excellent when performed well on stage. Whilst reading the play will leave a more shallow impression, if it's the only exposure you're likely to get then it's worth the effort to read it. Over the last decade or two it has been accepted as an exam text and studied at GCSE level and it stands up well to scrutiny.
The basic tale is that of twin brothers and their mother who is forced through poverty to give away one of the sons. We see the growth of the boys and how their paths cross, all the time shrouded in superstition and fear. From the moment she gives up Edward, Mrs Johnstone regrets it but realises, too late, that she has sealed an undesirable fate for the boys when she is told:
"You do know what they say about twins, separated at birth? They say that if either twin ever learns he was once one of a pair they shall both immediately die."
And while this might sound ridiculously dramatic, the story is pulled off with panache and intelligence. It's never directly stated that the superstition is valid, but that doesn't stop characters living in fear of it. The tale addresses differences between social classes - whilst Mickey is threatened over vandalism the same policeman laughs at the event, terming it a boyish prank when addressing Edward's adoptive family. Mickey has a life of drudgery ahead of him, hit hard by unemployment and a lack of prospects, while Edward's future is based on a university education and life in local council. Despite the obvious humour and the dramatic turns of the story, the class commentary shows through but never so much as to detract from the story. It's a story of the downfall of a number of characters, the boys meeting an untimely end, the mother who gave them up living in constant turmoil and regret and the adoptive mother going slowly mad. Those surrounding them are dragged down as they become a part of the story and dramatics abound.
It's not all gloom and despair, though. Another theme that recurs throughout the play is that of hope and dreams. Mrs Johnstone see parallels in her life with Marilyn Monroe and dreams about her son being brought up in what seems to her to be a palace. The boys, meanwhile, have their own dreams - Mickey wants to be like his older brother, Sammy ("he's got two worms and a catapult and he's built an underground den"), and he wants the abundance of sweets and knowledge he knows Edward has. Edward, meanwhile, dreams of a life with a girl like Linda - but Linda is Mickey's girlfriend. Simple things, realistic little details, and they each build a rounded character that an audience can readily identify with.
In opposition to this cast of sympathetic characters stands the Narrator, a dark figure with harsh words that echo over and over the bad decision the boys' mother made. Some of the most dramatic pieces belong to the Narrator, a shadowy bogeyman or devil who stands on the outskirts stepping into view as the bearer of bad news time and again.
These themes are made powerful by a wonderful soundtrack, score and lyrics also by Willy Russell. The words alone are quite flat and it's only with the music that the story will really begin to come to life. There are several versions of the soundtrack publicly available and I'd recommend reading the text in conjunction with one of the recordings (my own preference is for the 1988 cast version). The tunes reappear and give non textual clues to the atmosphere and what is coming next.
The whole tale is a tight and well written one, carefully structured (we see the closing scene at the beginning of the play, repeated at the end with the finale chorus) for a great effect. The sets are clever, there is no curtain down for a location change, everything happens in front of the audience, dynamically. It's full of energy and humour and the characters are played by the same people at age seven, sixteen and mid twenties, drawing in the audience and not letting go until the final devastating end. The play is ideally seen on stage first. As an interim or alternative measure the text can be read alone for an effective but less evocative experience of the story. Either way there is strong writing in there and the play deserves its continued worldwide acclaim. Well worth a read, but you'll be missing out on some great stuff if you leave it at that.
Advantages: Good music, good story Disadvantages: nothing really worth mentioning
I'll be honest, Blood Brothers was not what I expected and that really threw me off for the whole thing and reduced my enjoyment!
After speaking to various people beforehand about it, I got the impression that it was a more serious affair than it was. I was expecting to go in and see something more like Les Miserables rather than Spamalot!
The show lasts about 3 hours (including an interval) and is in the Phoenix Theatre which is located on Charing ... ...probably be aware by now, Blood Brothers is the story of 2 sons who were separated at birth but became best friends despite their different upbringings. One son (the one kept by their mother) is brought up in a run down area of Liverpool and struggles to make ends meet. The other son is brought up by a wealthy family in Liverpool and never goes wanting for anything. The story tells of their journey through their early life and how, despite both kids ...
mynameisrui 07.07.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Blood Brothers - Willy Russell
Advantages: Characters and the jokes in it. Disadvantages: Music, and some of the storyline is slightly tedious.
I went to see blood brothers at the theatre at christmas, and I thought the play was great. I had read Educating Rita in school, which I don't think is all that amazing, but I prefered this storyline. It's not only funny and amusing, but sad and upsetting. It really touches all your emotions.
The basic storyline is about a women who gives up one of the twins she has to the rich women she works with. She has to give up her child, because she can't ... ...and love lives. The twins, naturally meet, and they fall in love with the same girl. Minnie, the girl they fancy, loves the poorer twin, and eventually they get married. But then, trying to make money for his family, the poorer twin gets sent to prison. Once out of prison hee suffers severe bouts of depression. Naturally Minnie turns to the othr twin for help, which has its own consequences.
Throughout the story there is a little tale of superstition, ...
jeocar 21.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Blood Brothers - Willy Russell
Blood Brother’s “Once is never enough”
Author: Willy Russell; Director: Bob Tomson; Producer: Bill Kenwright Ltd; Cast includes: Lyn Paul (Mrs Johnston) Philip Stewart (Narrator) Stephen Palfreman (Mickey), Mark Hutchinson (Eddie), Sarah Hay (Mrs Lyons), Louise Clayton (Linda), Stephen Pallister (Mr Lyons), Daniel Taylor (Sammy), Grant Aylward (PC/Teacher), Louis Tamone (Perkins), Louise Russell (Donna Marie), Alex Harland (Bus Conductor), Emily ... ...their fingers and rub the blood together; they have now become Blood Brothers.
The two boys have fun together playing out with Mickey’s brother Sammy and Linda. Mrs Lyons finds out that the boys are friends and moves Eddie to the country. Both boys are upset to be parting, and Mrs Johnson is upset to loose her son again, she gives Eddie a locket with a picture of herself and Mickey in it.
Mrs Johnson is then informed that house she is living in ...
LIZKEMPO 09.01.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Blood Brothers - Willy Russell
Advantages: Its fantastic, so many emotions Disadvantages: none, there are no disadvantages
"Blood Brothers" is the best play i have ever seen or read. I have seen the play performed 7 times and every time was as moving, hillarious, saddening and exciting as the last. When i saw the play for the first time, i wasn't prepared for the masive change of emotions i was about to experience.
The play is about two twins seperated at birth as their mother (Mrs Johnston) cannot afford to keep them both. She sells one of the twins (Eddy) to Mrs Lyons ... ...(Mickey) who grows up on a council estate where he seems to make the best of his childhood. Mrs Lyons is so concerned about her husband and neighbours finding out about the deal and her reputation being ruined that she decides to take advantage of Mrs Johnstons superstitiousness (if thats a word) by telling her that if either twin finds out that they were once a pair, then they will both automatically die" and so it is agreed that the twins shall ...
ShedMonkey 06.10.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Blood Brothers - Willy Russell
Advantages: Great singing, acting and of course story Disadvantages: Nothing
was first taken to see this show in London about 2 years ago as part of my drama course and after annoying my mum about how good it was and her becoming jealous we went to see it on tour first in Eastbourne then in Tunbridge Wells and I think we’re going to get tickets again for the one in London
***The Story***
The story I set in 1962 and revolves around two boys Mickey Johnstone and Eddie Lyons both from different backgrounds, one from a well ... ...but happy family (The Johnstone’s). The two boys become friends at the age of seven; we then watch them grow into adults. But there is a secret that Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons hold; Eddie is the twin of Mickey, who was given away at birth to an infertile Mrs Lyons. As the two grow up they become very close and are even in love with the same girl (Linda) Mickey gets into a bit of trouble when he’s older and is sent to prison, after getting out he ...
Vicki_ER 27.01.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Blood Brothers - Willy Russell
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Advantages: Superbly written, witty, funny, and yet thought-provoking Disadvantages: If acted badly, is an insult to a superb piece
I haven't written for a short while now. My forays into the world of opinion writing are becoming less frequent, due to the inordinate amount of time spent at Uni (students have it easy? Yeah, right), and so, I want to do something that's going to leave an impression when I do get chance to write. Well, looks like I might be managing it, seeing as two of my last three posts (including this one) have been entirely new categories!
WillyRussell is undoubtably best known for his smash stage musical "BloodBrothers," but of all his pieces, this is my favourite. When I was in college, the play was staged by the entry-level course to my own, and though the performances were, shall we say, aketchy, the heart of the piece still permeated the thick veneer of directorial force which had had to be exerted. However, my most recent brush ...
Advantages: Great funny dramatic piece, only has two main characters, shows life as it really is for some people Disadvantages: Hard to understand the Liverpudlian accent in some places, is more suited to older readers
Skillfully written by the famous Liverpudlian playwright, WillyRussell, Educating Rita is a "must read" play for every drama student. (It is a modern fictitious play recommended for fourteen to eighteen year olds of all reading abilities). (Some of WillyRussell?s other works include Shirley Valentine, BloodBrothers, Our Day Out and Stags And Hens.)
---INTRODUCTION---
Educating Rita was first written and performed in the 1980s. The play is actually set in the year that it was written, 1985. It made it's debut in the world of theatre - and soon afterwards, due to it's huge success, it was made into a film.
---THE CHARACTERS---
RITA:
The play itself is about a young woman, Rita, who decides to enroll on an Open University class for English Literature. She is a twenty-six-year old hairdresser and it has been a difficult ...
