Book
Blood Brothers Tickets
Blood Brothers has been running in the West
End for over twenty years now. Willy Russell who
is responsible for the book, music and lyrics
broke with tradition in the 80’s when musicals
were larger than life and did not necessarily
highlight real lives. ‘Starlight Express’ and
‘Cats’ were two hugely popular musicals of that
time.
How then can this musical have enjoyed such
longevity in the West End? There is nothing
overly stimulating in the storyline and the
music is not particularly memorable. The set is
not striking and the budget low and yet the
plight of the twin boys Eddie and Mickey,
separated at birth seems to strike a chord with
audience members.
Blood Brothers is unusual too because of its
unhappy ending. Even the sombre Les Miserables
with the underlying tragedy of the French
Revolution and the deaths of some lead
characters, ends happily.
Despite my reservations about the merits of
Russell’s writing and musical score, I can place
myself amongst the ranks of people who have seen
Blood Brothers more than once. There is
something appealing about the story that
captures your attention. It might be watching
the development of two conflicting characters
both living a life that has been predestined by
them thanks to social conditioning. An element
of voyeurism creeps into the proceedings because
the lives of Eddie and Mickey could be
biographical. We watch them trying to build
their lives, accidentally meeting and striking
up a friendship, all the while never knowing
their true relationship. In order to embrace
this notion of watching real life, the actors
have to convince us they are brothers and the
clever technique of using both full grown men to
play their childhood selves help to ensure this
notion; without them necessarily looking
anything like each other!
There is a sense that they will find out the
truth but that it won’t be happy ever after. The
boys are too different and they both fall for
the same woman. How we get to that point of
revelation is a 2 hour and 45 minute enjoyable
journey.
Blood Brothers is a marvellous West End show
and you should definitely make a point of buying
your theatre tickets
and joining the ranks of serious London theatre
goers who thoroughly approve of its’ continued
success.
Review by Sarah Maxwell, Concierge Desk Ltd
Book
Blood Brothers Tickets
|
