A Review of ‘Blood Brothers’

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Drama Coursework

A Review of `Blood Brothers'

I went to see the musical `Blood Brothers' at the North Wales Theatre

in Llandudno, on Monday, 23^rd October. A professional company

performed it and the directors were Bill Kenwright and Bob Thompson.

The playwright Willy Russell wrote `Blood Brothers'.

I thought the show excellent and it definitely fulfilled the

high expectations I had of it. The play was essentially a social

comedy, but it was partially a tragedy also, both the comedy and

tragedy themes kept the audience on the edge of their seats. The

production was credible and realistic as people were moved to tears by

the end of the performance and the whole house gave a standing

ovation.

The beginning of the show was extremely effective; it showed

the two `Blood Brothers' Mickey and Eddie, lying dead, side by side

and equal at last. The stillness created here, by the lack of music

was very powerful. The twins were then solemnly carried off stage. The

silence and red lighting created a surreal effect. This image was only

broken when a gauze screen (that we previously did not realise was

there) was lifted and the narrator interrupted the silence with his

opening lines.

The actor's interpretation of the narrator was exceptional.

The narrator represented many themes; as fate, fear, the devil,

superstition, God, a messenger and was a constant embodiment of the

past. The narrator was ever present on stage; his haunting, shadowy
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presence was a reminder, throughout the play, of the first scene. His

tense, rigid body language produced a sense of judgement, as he

stealthily crept around the stage and his furtive, brooding presence

was always indicative of fate. The narrator controlled the play. He

calmly, sinisterly handed the Bible to Mrs Johnstone and was always

skulking around the stage, watching. The audience also started to feel

threatened by the narrator and looked for him in every scene. This

effect was created by the way the other characters were scared of him

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