Blood Brothers - Willy Russell

Advantages: A great play
Disadvantages: The text alone isn't enough - go and see it!

...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 ...
...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, ... Read review

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 ... Read review

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, ... Read review

Advantages: An fab musical!!
Disadvantages: N/A

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 ... Read review

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 ... Read review