Blood Brothers by Willy Russell - Analysis of a Performance
Blood Brothers by Willy Russell Cast Mrs Johnstone Gillian Kirkpatrick Narrator Philip Sterwart Mickey Darren Morfitt Eddie Andrew Langtree Mrs Lyons Amanda Minihan Linda Ruth Gibson Sammy Daniel Taylor Mr Lyons Stephen Pallister Police/Teacher Jason Griffiths Donna Marie/Miss Jones Nikki Davis-Jones Perkins David Bingham Neighbour Sean Jones Brenda Linda Nolan Bus Conductor Mark Lawson Setting the Scene This Musical is set in Liverpool. It is about a working class mum (Mrs Johnstone) who gives away one of her new born twins to her employer so that she can lead a better life. The employer Mrs Lyons takes on one of the babies at birth and brings the baby up as one of her own with her husband. Mrs Johnstone is always behind on her bills and is always in debt with the tax man, But Mrs Lyons is rich and can bring up the son with everything he needs. The boys grow up and as they get older they are still none the wiser. When they were about 7 they meet in the street and find out that they were born on the same day and year. They then make a pack to be blood brothers. The two boys Mickey and Eddie soon find out that they will soon be split up and may never see each other again. When Mrs Lyons moves she takes Eddie with her, they go to live in the countryside. Not knowing were the Lyons have gone Mrs Johnstone is evicted out of her house so
Evaluation of a live Production - Blood Brothers
Evaluation of a live Production Blood Brothers Blood Brothers was written by Willy Russell, It was first performed at the Liverpool Playhouse in January 1983. It is a musical / comedy drama set in Liverpool in the 1980's. We went to see it at the Phoenix Theatre. When we were on our way to see the production I was quite excited and was looking forward to it very much as I had been told by some pupils at my school it was very good. When we arrived at the theatre and sat down in our seats the stage and layout looked very big. There seemed to be a lot of space for the actors to perform on. The play takes place in Liverpool, it is based on two twins who are separated at birth, as the mother cannot afford to keep them both. One of the twins is given away to a very wealthy family and the other stays with its real mother, who is 'working class'. The two brothers meet when they are young, without realising they are twins, and become best friends. They grow up together but gradually class and the difference in the way they were raised comes between them, ending in both of their deaths. Mickey, played by Richard Munday, was very funny. I really enjoyed watching this character. When he played Mickey as a young boy his movement, posture and the way he spoke was very believable. He played the part very well. Eddie, played by Mark Hutchinson, also played his part very well. He was
Analyse in detail scene 6 from the play "Kicking Out".
Analyse in detail scene 6 from the play "Kicking Out" In my essay I will analyse in detail scene 6 from a play called "Kicking Out". This play was written by Clifford Oliver in 1994 and was first performed on the 6th of November 1994. The play was commissioned by the football in the community scheme at Leyton Orient. The play was written for young people to remove racism in football and in society in general. The Kicking out play is about five young adults building a team for a five a side football competition. The trouble is they need a team of mixed race. During the play Eddie the coach of the team, lies about playing for West Ham and through out the play he make racist comments. The team are not sure if they can have Eddie as the coach of the team. Scene six is set on the terrace, as in scene one. In this scene there are three characters Tanya, Kelvin on one side and Eddie on the other. They are watching a football match. Kelvin and Tanya are going out. Tanya is fifteen and white, she has an attitude problem with Eddie. Kelvin is fifteen too and is black; he has not mentioned any thing to his parents about his relationship with Tanya. Eddie is in his early forties. The writer shows the action takes place at a football match by his use of stage directions. This tells the stage director and actors what to do and where to stand. The first stage direction is found at
Mickey Johnston Timeline - Blood Brothers by Willy Russell
Timeline of Mickey Johnstone Age: 0 He is born to Mrs. Johnstone, a woman from Liverpool. He has many brothers and sisters and he also has a twin, later named Edward. Age: 2 days He is separated from his brother. His twin goes to live with a wealthy family called the Lyons. Age: 7 years At the age of seven, Mickey is an average 7 year old. Yearning to be older, very excitable and he has a lot of friends around his age. He is bullied by his older brother Sammy and Like many kids in 60's Liverpool, doesn't have many toys. One day, after being told of for playing up near the park, where he's forbidden to go, he meets Eddie, a boy his exact age. They become blood brothers but Mrs. Johnstone tells Eddie to stay away from Eddie. Eddie moves away, and Mickey also moves, to somewhere in the countryside. Mickey is still interested in sweets at this age. Age: 14 years At the age of 14, Mickey is a little shy, nervous around girls and just likes to mess around. While playing around in class he gets suspended, and so does Linda. While outside thinking, he meets Edward again. They soon become close again and along with Linda start to enjoy there lives. By now Mickey has moved on from sweets to smoking. Age:15-17 Between the ages of 15 and 17, Mickey, along with Edward and Linda, starts to enjoy life. They go to the beach, the chip shop and just enjoy themselves. But when
Discuss The Stage Techniques Used By Willy Russell To Keep The Audiences Attention In His Play
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, Willy Russell has strong views on the classes in society. His
Authors of short stories have to pay attention to structure, atmosphere, social background and language, comment in detail on the way your attention is sustained by 'the Half Brothers' by Elizabeth Gaskell.
To make the content effective and to sustain the attention of the reader, authors of short stories have to pay attention to structure, atmosphere, social background and language, comment in detail on the way your attention is sustained by 'the Half Brothers' by Elizabeth Gaskell. During the industrial revolution, short stories became very popular and 'The Half Brothers' is an example of a short story. However, it does not always conform to the usual characteristics of a short story. 'The Half Brothers' is the story of two half brothers that are alienated from each other after their mother dies. Many years later, the younger brother's life is saved by his older half brother (Gregory), who dies trying to save his younger brother's life. Elizabeth Gaskell uses structure a lot to maintain the reader's attention. 'The Half Brothers' has a very long and detailed background that helps the reader to understand and begin to care about the characters and their lives so far, thus sustaining their attention. This is unusual for a short story as it is traditional for short stories to have no background or scene settings. A further outcome of this detailed background is that Gaskell's characters are developed. This is important in prolonging the reader's attention as otherwise the reader would not be interested in the main climax of the story which is when the Gregory dies. 'The Half
At The Beginning Of The Play The Narrator describes Mrs Johnstone As The Mother So Cruel. What Do You Think Of Mrs Johmstone?
At The Beginning Of The Play The Narrator describes Mrs Johnstone As The Mother So Cruel. What Do You Think Of Mrs Johmstone? The play has many themes. It shows the irony of the class system where the twins, born from the same mother have completely different lives. Mickey who stays with his real mother grows up seeing "chicken and chips" and "corned beef" as treats, where as Edward has everything he wants such as "dictionaries" a big house and lots of money. Mrs Johnstone I think feels guilty about this, which is one of the reasons that she doesn't like seeing Edward. Mrs Johnstone at the beginning of the book is described as "the mother so cruel." I don't think this is fair as she is a mother of seven already. Another two would be too much, so giving up one of her babies is the right thing to do. The idea to give up Edward isn't even Mrs Johnstones. It was mrs Lyons that put the idea into Mrs Johnstones head in the first place "give one of them to me" so mrs Johnstone just went along with her when she realised what a wonderful life the baby would have with Mrs Lyons. "he wopuldn't have to worry about where his next meal was coming from" This line is shoiwing how Mrs Johnstone is trying to convince herself that Edward would have a better life with the Lyons family. After she gets really excited about her baby growing up in a rich household she realises it would be morally
Speaking and Listening Monologue: Edward Lyons
H/W Tuesday 5th October 2004 Monologue: Edward Lyons Edward skips in on stage. Oh dear! I can't believe what I just did, it was so hilarious, I hope Mickey's proud of me, well he should be but I wonder why he didn't do anything. We went to the park today me and Mickey and this girl called Linda, whom Mickey assured me was okay. Mickey had brought along an air rifle so that we could try and shoot Peter Pan's thing off. It was great fun, neither me or Mickey managed to because Linda had distracted us so it wasn't really fair when she hit him. I was extremely jealous because generally boys are supposed to be better. Well Mickey didn't feel like playing anymore so he took the gun away from us. I was beginning to get slightly bored, I sat down on the patchy grass whilst waiting for Linda and Mickey to think of a game. With this line Edward sits down at the front of the stage. After a few minutes Linda suggested that we throw stones through some persons window. He stand up quickly as to show his fear in an exaggerated movement. I was terribly scared that we might get caught. Well Linda noticed that I was afraid so I decided to do it anyway, I didn't want them to think less of me. Well right as we were about to throw the stones a policeman comes up behind us and asks what we were doing. I
You are the director of a new production of the play “Blood Brothers”. Give advice to the actors playing the roles of Eddie and Mickey about how to tackle the age changes.
You are the director of a new production of blood brothers. Give advice to the actors playing the roles of Eddie and Mickey about how to tackle the age changes. You must comment on at least two scenes in detail. If you have seen a production of Blood Brothers you may also refer to this. In the scene when you both meet for the first time you must consider your body language. You must consider how an eight year old would walk and stand. An eight year old would have fewer worries than someone who is older than them so they would walk not really paying much attention to what is around them. You would also have to think how someone who is better off would walk compared to someone who is from a less well off background. You have got to consider how to use the tone of your voice. At first they were a bit shy. But after they first met you would have to consider how an eight year old would not be shy so they would say anything so say your lines so the audience have no clue to what you will say next. Another important factor to consider is the way you deliver your lines. You should deliver your lines in a free flowing way. When they are swearing you should not feel like people might be offended. In the scene when you Mickey and Eddie meet for the first time after they have both moved to the country you should pay attention to your body language. This time Eddie and Mickey are both 16
Friendship in Harry Potter
Ruiz, Juan R. ENC1101 Dr. K. Claus 1-23-04 Essay #6 Friendship in Harry Potter Friendship is an in-depth relationship mixing trust, loyalty and support. It is the combination of understanding, empathy and intimacy. But, no one can form a friendship until he/she realizes that the basis of being friends is meeting the needs of the other person. One must be a friend in order to have one (Mugglenet). Friendship and its main components: loyalty-trust, support, and similar values are very well emphasized in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone. Trust and loyalty go hand-in-hand for friends. Friends are trusted with secrets, both large and small, because good friends never break a confidence. Good friends are forever loyal. This is the case of Hagrid with Professor Dumbledore. Hagrid is forever loyal to Dumbledore despite of their differences because the professor has trusted Hagrid with important undertakings. An important vote of trust and responsibility that friends deserve in order to feel appreciated. A similar example of loyalty is portrait when Harry stood up for his new friend Ron Weasley when Draco Malfoy insulted Ron's family; Harry rejected to shake Malfoy's hand and added: "I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks" (Rowling 109). It is hard to be a good friend as well as to find one. There are many obstacles and situations that may interfere