Discuss The Stage Techniques Used By Willy Russell To Keep
The Audiences Attention In His Play “Blood Brothers”
There are many ways in which Willy Russell keeps the attention of the audience in “Blood Brothers”. Willy Russell wrote “Blood Brothers” shortly before its first performance in 1981. The first way in which he does this is when the narrator speaks in a normal local accent rather than a posh accent. The narrator also outlines a little bit of what will happen in the next act in his opening speech.
This play has no set, just props. This will keep the attention of the audience, as they won’t have to wait between set changes. The way the audience knows where the characters are is by what the characters are holding, or using, or saying. The absence of a set would also help the audience pay full attention to the characters. The production doesn’t have a very big cast and at one point they even make a joke about people doubling up. The milkman becomes the gynecologist and he jokes about changing professions. In certain parts of the play the characters use the audience as another member of the cast. Linda and Mrs. Johnston act as if they are talking to the housing officer and then pause and answer afterwards. After the pause they answer the housing officers questions by kind of repeating what the officer says,
