Analyse the the music used in the play 'Blood Brothers'

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In the opening of the play the mixture of narration and spotlight help to focus the audience attention to the words being spoken. The slow and mysterious music gives a sense of importance whilst setting an edgy mood.

        During the first song the positioning on stage is used well, with Miss Johnston left onstage, alone, implies that she is helpless and alone. The song is interrupted by her kids; this could suggest that her life has been interrupted as well. The song she is singing is also an example of thought tracking, with her children offstage with her being on tells the audience that her kids are the constant background to her personality and that she cannot be herself without her kids interfering.

        In the next scene the light is much brighter. From this we can infer that she is much happier when working and earning money. She is in a much more positive mood. Which suggest that the priority in her life is to keep food on the table for her kids and provide for them.

        When Miss Johnston tells Mrs L ions (her new employer) about the twins she is expecting, the lighting becomes much darker to create a negative mood.  Miss Lions then tries to persuade Miss Johnston. Whilst doing this, proxemics are used to create a false impression of friendship. She moves much closer to Miss Johnston and holds her by the arm. Therefore making Miss Johnston receive an illusion of trust.

        During Mrs Lions song begins she uses audience interaction by moving to the very edge of the stage, this allows the audience to feel more of her emotions and understand how she is feeling. It could also imply that she is feeling alone, and wants to be near people and communicate with them.  

For the line ‘My child’ in her song she clutches her stomach, which demonstrates how much she longs for a child. It highlights several things; one being how lonely she is without her husband, another being that she wishes she was carrying a child of her own. The fact that Mrs Lions cannot have kids of her own whereas Ms.Johnston has too many creates an envious feel between the two.

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        At the end of the song Mrs Lions begins to fantasize about having a child and all the perks that are compulsory. She does not want to lose this feeling, or for Miss Johnston to change he r mind about giving away one of her children. Therefore Mrs Lions asks her to make a binding agreement. The lighting changes once again from light to dark which shows how extreme Mrs Lions proposal.

        

        Soon after, the narrator says the words ‘must be paid’ and each word is accompanied by a big booming sound. This marks the words and emphasises ...

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