Directing Blood Brothers

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Sanah Yunis

Imagine you are directing “Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell from Act two. “Mrs Lyons enters and goes to Mickey” to the end of the play.

Blood Brothers is a play written by Willy Russell set in Liverpool in the early 1980s. I feel this play highlights the contrast between social classes and the effect it has on their lives. This is exposed in quite a deliberate way by showing the obvious differences between the two families.

This play is about Mrs Johnstone who has seven children and is expecting twins. She is wanting to give one of them away. Mrs Lyons is the woman who employs Mrs Johnstone. She is desperate for a child and willing to take one of Mrs Johnstone’s twin sons. The two young boys, Mickey and Edward grow up to become friends at a young age. This is not a good idea so their mothers try with a number of failed attempts, to move away from each other. However of course their secret is always going to come out and it leaves us with a tragic ending.

I feel that this scene is important as it is the main one and a lot seems to occur here. This scene, with all the action completes the play by ending with the long awaited tragedy.

Edward and Linda had an affair and Mrs Lyons told Mickey about this. Mickey is in total frustration over this and knows he needs to step in.

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“There’s a man gone mad in the town tonight, he’s gonna shoot somebody down.”

This implies that the affair is going to have serious consequences. This line should be read out sadly by the narrator indicating the deep upset Mickey must be feeling. The lighting should be kept dim adding to the tense atmosphere.

“He’s…Mickey…Mickey’s got a gun.” Mrs Johnstone should be saying this breathlessly with a startled expression on her face. She should be dressed in worn out, cheap clothing because of her working class background. The lighting here should be dark to add to the dramatic mood. ...

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