Review by Daz Gale
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
One of the West End’s longest-running musicals is back in London this week as Willy Russell’s timeless masterpiece Blood Brothers hits the Capital for a week at New Wimbledon Theatre as part of its extensive tour of the UK. With a show that has captivated audiences for decades and a touring production that has proved tried and tested for a number of years, would this return trip to a favourite show of mine get me dancing?
Debuting in 1983 and enjoying a 24-year run in the West End from 1988 to 2012, Blood Brothers tells the story of twins Mickey and Eddie who find themselves separated at birth, each raised in wildly differing families of wealth and class. Meeting each other by chance, the pair quickly become best friends and call themselves “Blood brothers” never knowing the truth regarding their actual brotherly status. In a show full of superstition, a prophecy that the two will die on the day they find out they are related hangs over the story with the knowledge this can only end in tragedy.
Willy Russell’s glorious writing proves as thrilling now as I imagine it would have done the first time anyone saw Blood Brothers. Moments of light-hearted comedy blend with the overarching more serious themes to create a rich and varied world that plays off the differences in the Johnstone and Lyons families and how each of the twins is raised. A seemingly random choice at the beginning leads to a take on the argument between nature and nurture as we watch each of the brothers’ lives move in drastically different ways. The fact the pair keep coming together despite these changes is a beautiful touch, allowing for two characters it feels impossible not to fall in love with – making the ultimate tragedy all the more heartbreaking.
As much as I love this show, on this visit I did notice it didn’t feel quite as slick as it has done in the past, feeling slightly tired in places. This is a very minor criticism in a show that stands the test of time, managing to evoke a sense of nostalgia both from its 20th Century setting and, for me personally, for the first time I saw Blood Brothers in a show I hold very dear to me.
Any good production of Blood Brothers needs a captivating Mrs Johnstone and Vivienne Carlyle more than rises to the occasion, channelling the conflicting nature of the character and the heartbreak that causes her to make the hardest decision of her life. Her incredible acting is matched through sensational vocals with a great storytelling ability in ‘Marilyn Monroe’ and a spine-tingling rendition of the classic ‘Tell Me It’s Not True’, every bit as powerful at this performance as any other time I have heard it before.
The role of Mickey, usually played by Sean Jones who has a long history with the role, was played by Dominic Gore at this performance, once again demonstrating the importance and immeasurable skill of understudies in a phenomenal take on the character. Gore particularly comes into his own in the climactic scenes where emotions are heightened. As Eddie, Joe Sleight gives a sweet and balanced performance, capturing the very essence of the character in a loveable portrayal. His chemistry with Gore creates the kind of brotherly love that lights up the stage.
Gemma Brodrick delights with her turn as Linda, giving a spine-tingling emotional turn in a pivotal scene towards the show’s climax. For one reason or another, I found it hard to connect with Mrs Lyons at this performance – with no disrespect to the actor who I’m sure is talented in herself, the lines weren’t conveyed naturally and some key beats seem to be missed for some strange reason. A standout in this production is Seán Keany as the mysterious and ever-present Narrator. Keany gives a dark and foreboding presence, perfectly finding the right balance of lurking in the background, making sure one eye is always on him. Expertly holding Blood Brothers together, through stunning vocals, faultless acting and inspired choices, he brought something refreshing to the old favourite and was the standout for me, personally.
Though this might not have been the best performance of Blood Brothers I have seen over the years, such is the quality of this incredible show that even when it’s not at its best, it’s still pretty special. A true classic in every sense, Blood Brothers remains beautiful and poignant, delivering that ultimate gut-punch moment at the conclusion that few other shows have ever managed. It is no wonder why audiences are still flocking to this show more than 40 years later, and long may that continue.
Blood Brothers plays at New Wimbledon Theatre until 8th March. The tour continues throughout 2025. Dates and tickets here
Photos by Jack Merriman