Theatre Review: Blood Brothers, Bristol Hippodrome
Summary
Rating: ★★★★★
Running Dates: 29th August - 2nd September 2023
Where to see it: Bristol Hippodrome
Duration: 2 hours 50 minutes (including interval)
Keywords: Musical, Emotional, Dramatic
Review
From the moment the musical begins, the audience is taken into a world of two juxtaposing journeys that intertwine. It is an emotional tale that leaves you on the edge of your seat.
‘Blood Brothers' ' by Willie Russell, tells the story of Mickey and Eddie, two twins separated at birth. The twins are born to struggling mother Mrs Johnstone, who, worried she will not be able to feed two extra mouths, gives one twin away to wealthy Mrs Lyons.
Mrs Johnstone, played by Niki Colwell Evans, gave an absolutely incredible performance. Her emotion really shone through the character, while her powerful singing voice filled the entire Hippodrome. When Mrs Johnstone stopped singing, you really could hear a pin drop as the audience was stunned to silence.
The chemistry between Mickey (played by Sean Jones) and Eddie, played by (Joe Sleight), was clear. It was fascinating to watch Sean and Joe live the characters, all the way from the age of 7 up until adulthood. You really felt as though you grew with them.
It would be remiss not to mention Danny Whitehead, the Narrator. The Narrator was present in every scene, providing dramatic effect as well as laughing along to the humorous parts of the musical. The Narrator had a strong singing voice, and provided an almost villainous element to the musical in many scenes. The way the characters acknowledged his presence worked very well, in a way breaking that fourth wall.
A personal highlight was the use of actors and actresses playing multiple parts. This added to the humour of the musical, and added a sense of familiarity as the story moved on.
The blend between moments of laughter, along with moments of sorrow, is what makes Blood Brothers so unique. Watching this with my partner, we came away discussing nature versus nurture as well as the social inequality that still exists in our society today. In the same breath we found ourselves fondly smiling over the humorous one liners and charismatic energy of young Eddie and Mickey.
The set design is to be described as simple but effective. The use of old brick houses and graffiti covered walls took you into a world of poverty and struggle, while the green fields and styles whisked you away to the fresh countryside air.
While this may be an unpopular opinion, I will admit I am not usually a fan of musical songs. I find they can be cheesy, unnecessary and often break the storyline. This musical is a huge exception. The songs were poignant and powerful, yet catchy at the same time. They enhanced the storyline, sometimes creating emotive responses from the audience, while other times providing light relief.
By the end of the musical, I felt like I had been on an emotional rollercoaster. Many audience members were moved to tears, while five minutes earlier had been shedding tears of laughter. This is a musical that will keep you thinking well after the final curtain is drawn.
Standout Moment: Mickey and Eddie telling Mrs Johnstone they are going to the cinema - watch and you will see why!
See if: You are looking for an emotional, thought provoking musical
Last Impression: A musical that is as poignant today as it was on release
Similar Musicals: Billy Elliot
Written by Frankie