Willy Russell's "Blood Brothers" Review
Willy Russell's "Blood Brothers" Review
Tell me it's not true
Say it's just a story
These words echoed in my head as I entered the Phoenix Theatre. I had had past experience with "Blood Brothers" by singing the heartbreaking ballad "Tell Me It's Not True" in a past show. Therefore I anticipated that the performance I was about to watch was going to be a roller coaster of emotions, with bitter consequences.
I expected a first class show with strong, slick performances from the cast and fantastic musical numbers. This expectation of "Blood Brothers" was partly due to it being in the reputable West End of London and had been running at the Phoenix Theatre since 1991. This made me think that a musical that could still have large audiences coming to see it in the highly competitive London Theatre scene, must have something exceptional.
I also has background knowledge about "Blood Brothers" from reading the script in parts in class. However, some parts of the play were still patchy to me, so I was looking forward to having the entire story acted out from start to finish. It was interesting for me as well because I was familiar with other plays Willy Russell had written. Having seen Shirley Valentine and read "A Grand Day Out" I enjoyed his of simple, uncluttered style of writing.
"Blood Brothers" is set in Liverpool 1962. Its story stems from an impoverished single mother of six called Mrs Johnstone who, by finding that she is pregnant with twins, is persuaded to give up one of her unborn children to her employer, Mrs Lyons. The story unfolds by portraying how the two brothers grow up so differently without ever knowing they have a twin.
"Of one womb born, on the self same day How one was kept and one given away?"
The story deepens when the twins become friends when they are seven but both realise that they have the same birthday and therefore are both "nearly eight". They become best friends and declare one another to be their "Blood Brother". From then on the story follows their persistence to remain friends and the obstacles each come up against. Sadly though, their forbidden friendship finally leads to one another's tragic death; never knowing the truth that they were brothers.
Never knowing they shared one name Till the day they died
I never really absorbed the absurdity of the storyline because the script was so subtle in its telling of the story, and the performance of the cast didn't over dramatise the events unfolding. If they had, it would have made the story have an unwanted comical element as it would have been likened to a television "soap" story. Therefore the story would not have been taken so seriously and so impending issues and events raised in "Blood Brothers" would not have impacted for the right reasons.
The style of the presentation somehow made the time passing of twenty years believable in a little under three hours! They successfully did this by showing key moments and events in the characters lives. Just like the story, the boys relationship started off quite simple and as it progressed it grew larger and greater in complexity. I felt that there was a definite undertone of despondency and although humour was sometimes injected into the play, it only distracted the audience temporarily before the atmosphere returned to dark and depressive. The effect of this was that the tension grew as the audience always had a heavy feeling on their heart that everything was not going to turn out alright. Therefore when humour or light heartedness was implemented, the result was that afterwards, the audience felt more dread as the humour distinguished the way the audience felt before the light relief. Personally I felt the sense of dread because I knew how it would all turn out, however I believe that if I was a person with no background knowledge of "Blood Brothers", the eminent feeling of unease would still have been obvious.
As "Blood Brothers" was continually gripping and intriguing, I for one did not lose my concentration. In fact if I had temporarily, I believe that it would not have mattered as the songs played a part of informing the audience or reminding them of events. In my opinion the musical numbers actually managed to hold my attention because they allowed you to absorb the story from a different perspective. It also aided the pace of the story as they were an outlet for the characters to express their emotions, fears and hopes. The songs therefore helped build a relationship with the audience. I also enjoyed the slight variations of some of the musical numbers. For example Mrs Johnstone's song about her past was presented at the beginning of the first half, and this was varied in the beginning of the second half by her expressing her hopes for life in the present and future.
Past Present
Me husband he walked out on me Since I pay me bills on time,
A month or two ago The milkman insists I call him Joe.
For a girl they say He brings me bread and eggs
Who looks a bit like Marilyn Monroe Says I've got legs
Like Marilyn Monroe
Richard Munday played the character of Mickey Johnstone superbly. He was entirely convincing and got "inside" the character of what I imagined Mickey to be. What is especially clever is that the same actor plays the character ...
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Past Present
Me husband he walked out on me Since I pay me bills on time,
A month or two ago The milkman insists I call him Joe.
For a girl they say He brings me bread and eggs
Who looks a bit like Marilyn Monroe Says I've got legs
Like Marilyn Monroe
Richard Munday played the character of Mickey Johnstone superbly. He was entirely convincing and got "inside" the character of what I imagined Mickey to be. What is especially clever is that the same actor plays the character at different ages throughout the play. Each age having different characteristics and troubles, but each time being successfully portrayed by Richard Munday. When he was playing a young Mickey, he was the epitome of a 7 year old boy: excitable, figity and lovable. Mickey liked to play games which only needed his imagination, he pretended to drive a car by pulling his moth-eaten jumper over his knees and shuffling forward on his bottom. It was only seconds later when he suddenly would leap up and start something new. His hyperactivity was light relief for the audience as before that, the tone had continually been gloomy.
His portrayal of Mickey worked so well because Richard Munday used his body, face and voice to be Mickey. I loved knowing what Mickey was thinking because it was never hidden on his face. Perhaps I enjoyed knowing how he felt so simply because it was truthful, which contrasted with the entire web of lies that the play was based on.
Mickey's voice was extremely varied in tone and loudness. This mirrored his excitable and changeable thoughts swirling around in his head. His voice was always questioning what was going round around him and then voicing what he thought. I liked how he usually over emphasised his speech to make things that seemed little and unimportant the biggest deal in the world! It just proved further how Mickey was very enthusiastic and this helped him build a relationship with the audience, who were starting to really like him. This relationship was essential for the audience wanting to continue watching Mickey's journey and also to stir their emotions throughout the play.
Also, Mickey used big gestures to demonstrate lack of reserve and formality. This not only contrasted with the reserved and quiet Eddie, but also showed how as we grow up, we grow with a longer list of inhibitions. Mickey portrays how as children, we don't care how silly or "uncool" we look. It was also Mickey as himself, not trying to be anyone else. Which in itself I found revitalizing, if a little ironic in "Blood Brothers".
Generally Mickey's escapades and imagination aged seven was fast and exhausting just to watch. I myself found it was tiring just to keep up! However I believe that that in itself is the epitome of what childlike innocence and ingenuity is like at its best!
Mickey aged twenty one could not be more different form the young Mickey the audience grew to love. This Mickey had had a lifetime of hardship and now after being in prison was in an addict in a downward spiral of self loathing and despair.
Mickey's body language was always slumped and every time he moved and spoke seemed to take considerable effort. Although this was upsetting in itself, it made more of an impact because of how Mickey used to be. Now it seemed that the young, headstrong boy had gone forever.
Gone was the voice of excitement and curiosity and in its place was a predominantly low voice consumed with pain. One such scene where this was illustrated was where Linda hid Mickey's pills and tried to reason with him. Mickeys response was intense anger and instability. He breaks his promise and orders the woman he loves to give him his tablets.
I know I promised but I can't do without them. Now give them to me.
This scene ran with high emotion and tension as Linda steadfastly said "no". Which made me feel worried for her safety. This was a surprising feeling as the old Mickey would never have caused concern. Yet now he had a feeling of danger around him. The scene ended with Linda giving into his demands and breaking down in tears. We sympathised with Linda because we too had known Mickey throughout his life as she did. We had seen them grow up and fall in love, but now we were witnessing Mickey's self destruction and with him, everything and everyone he cared about. It was painful to watch and I believe that this was the point in the play that felt like the point of no return.
Phillip Stewart as the narrator was the omniscient character whose sombre prescence always hinted at the tragic ending. He was probably onstage more then any other character yet he was the one who said the least. I saw the narrator not only as the informer to the audience but also acting as the conscience of the characters. This was throughout the play and the narrator especially centred on Mrs Johnstone. ,
Now y' know the devil's got your number Y' know he's gonna find y',
The narrator used imagery of superstitions to make Mrs Johnstone feel fear, and regret constantly over her decision of giving one of her babies away.
You're always gonna know what was done
Even when you shut your eyes you still see
That you sold a son".
The theme of superstition is depicted through the narrator.
Shoes upon the table
An' a spider's been killed.
A full moons shinin'
An' the salts been spilled.
You're walkin' on the pavement cracks
Don't know what's gonna come to pass.
This is ironic using superstition imagery throughout on Mrs Johnstone as she believed the lie that Mrs Lyons told her that "if either twin learns that he was one of a pair, they shall both immediately die". Yet she realised that she had made a terrible mistake by going against her instincts soon after. Therefore, by the narrator using superstition imagery, it's reminding her of her foolishness and as a result her most costly mistake.Thus the audience know that she is haunted by her past constantly. It is suffice to say that most of the consequences and most of the happenings in the play can be traced back to superstition.
The narrator was the unbiased character in the play. This worked as it gave the audience a balanced view but also let them make their own minds up about the scenarios set before them. Partly due to this, I found that I came to respect the narrator and trust what he was saying.
I felt that Phillip Stewart played the part of the narrator very strongly. He had a prescence on the stage which, when he was looking out of a window or glancing from above, could still be felt. This was important because the narrator didn't always say much but when he did, it was very powerful and meaningful. If he had not got that stage presence, his speech would be seen as weak and he would an annoying, unnecessary character butting in.
The narrator's voice was used well throughout. He commanded the audience to listen to him. I liked the contrast of him blending into the background but suddenly grabbing the attention of the entire theatre through his voice of authority. When he sang " Shoes Upon The Table" he projected himself so as the audience could comprehend what he was saying. I noticed he raised his voice on the line of "Now y' know the devil's got your number" . Perhaps because it signified by using the word "devil" that the bargain the two women made was "evil".
It was effective having the narrator open the story and close it by saying,
Did you ever hear the story of the Johnstone twins?
As like each other as two new pins
How one was kept and one given away,
How they were born, and they died, on the self same day?
At the beginning, this verse caused the audience to question what was going to happen. At the end when this was said, the verse caused the audience to reflect on what they had witnessed.
In one scene his presence was memorable when he sang parts of "Shoes Upon The Table" to Mrs Lyons. I think I remembered it because he followed her around, enforcing the idea of being a conscience. It was really effective as the narrator personified the secret itself by hanging over her, always following. I thought it was good how the narrator played on the fact that Mrs Johnstone was superstitious and his presence was so dominating in parts he even made Mrs Lyons afraid.
The play itself moved quickly through time, as this was nessecery to see the babies grow to be boys, and then to see them become men. One of the most obvious places where time moved by quickly was in the "Summer Sequence". Here, it followed Mickey, Eddie and Linda as they grew up together.
The street's turned into paradise, the radio's singing dreams,
You're innocent, immortal, you're just fifteen.
.....To share your last cigarette and your secret dream
At the midnight hour, at seventeen
.......How living could be anything other than a dream
When you're young, free and innocent and just eighteen.
Presenting childhood growing up so fast in one song worked really well. It was accepted by the audience that the characters had bypassed a few years. By using the song, it kept the pace of the play going.
The pace of the performance was also kept running by the way the cast included the changing of scenes in their own performance. This was made successful by the actors introducing the change of scene by incorporating it into their own acting. One such example was when the set of Mr and Mrs Lyons house was placed on the stage and Mrs Lyons wondered over to her "house" and fiddled with the pictures on the wall before the next scene started.
I also thought that the pace was faster in the first act then the second. Although it probably only seemed faster because happier events happened such as Eddie and Mickey meeting for the first time, and the news that they were going to move away. It may also have seemed that way because the first half had more upbeat songs such as "Kids Game" and "Bright New Day".
Themes that became apparent to me in the play were such things as love/hate. It occurred that love in "Blood Brothers" was depicted in many different ways. Firstly both of the mothers show their love for their son in completely different ways. Mrs Lyons is very protective and suffocating to Eddie yet she can offer him everything, whereas Mrs Johnstone can only offer love and lets Mickey run wild. Yet Mickey and her are much closer then Eddie and Mrs Lyons. It therefore suggests on face value that all you need is love for happiness. Along with superstition, love is a forerunnig theme in the play, and like superstition is the cause and consequence of most of the events. One example of this is when Mickey went to kill Eddie, his once loved his best friend, because he believed that the woman he loved, loved Eddie. This shows that love in "Blood Brothers" stems back to hate. Therefore, the two are not so different as what they may seem. Also, Mrs Lyons screams "I hate you!" to Mrs Johnstone and brandishes a knife. It seems hard to comprehend that the woman who gave you a much wanted child you love is worthy of dying for still loving that child herself.
Class is also a primary theme in the play. Class effects how people are able to live their lives and the situations they find themselves in. Without class there would be no "Blood Brothers" as Mrs Johnstone would never have had to give up a baby.
The class division was shown through the song "My Child"
Silver trays to take meals on
A bike with both wheels on?
The class division also leaves Mickey and Eddie in completely different places nearing the end of the play. Eddie is a consuller, respected and with money; Mickey is unemployed, with no qualifications or money. It gives the harrowing reminder of lost childhood on Mickeys part. As Linda got pregnant Mickey had to become a responsible adult even though he was barely an adult himself. This was totally unlike Eddie who did what be seen as the "norm" at his age by going off to University. This future for Mickey was totally unfeasible for his "class" . From Mickey's background, nothing was expected of him. Whereas there were high expectations for Eddie. The unfairness of this is illustrated so profusely by Mickey screaming "I could have been him!"
The last thing said by him before he shot Eddie dead.
Eddie always tried to help out his best friend because he believed that his friend could turn expectations upside down and become someone. Eddie demonstrated this by trying to give him money to help him out but this time Mickey wanted nothing to do with it. This contrasted with the sweets and cigarettes Eddie gave to Mickey as a child/teenager where Mickey was only to happy to take stuff because it didn't make him less of a "man" However Eddie overstretched his generosity by offering a house and job. All this did was to make Mickey feel even more insignificant and infuriated that his best friend had done so well. it's a sad message that their friendship did not manage to overcome the boundaries that society placed.
The stage design, although it looked simple, was very complex. Its simplicity was a key element as the strength of "Blood Brothers" is that it has a simplistic quality about it. To prove consistent in this, the stage had to reflect this.
The stage design symbolised the divison of Eddie and Mickey simplistically. One one side was the obvious "poor" side where Mrs Johnstone lived; complete with graffiti and rundown houses and then on the other side a clean "posh" house.
This aspect of the set supported the theme of social division within the play. It was a visual technique to demonstrate this.
The changes of scene and location were achieved successfully by having a set within a set. This was achieved in one example of Mrs Lyons house interior being placed in the middle of the stage from above wires. To me the house in the middle symbolised how Mrs Lyons would always be surrounded by her guilty secret. This especially became apparent when the Lyons moved to the country in the second act, yet the house was still symbolically amidst Mrs Johnstones area and therefore still not escaping to anywhere.
Before the play had even started and the cast were coming onto the set to take their first positions, there was a translucent curtain which separated the audience from the actors. Again this wasn't so much "social" divison but it was still a barrier between us and them. I think that the curtain illustrated to us that we were observing something yet we ourselves were not part of it; separated but not isolated. We were the witnesses. If this were true it would tie in with the idea of witnessing Mickey killing Eddie before being shot himself. (as this was were our story started).
There was also the symbolism of guns. Throughout the play there were references. Such things as in "Kids Game" with "I got y' I shot y'. It is also shown as a term of affection when Eddie points an imaginary gun at Linda as a term of acknowledgement.
As the title of the song suggests, the guns are seen as kids play. The reference to the gun is again used when Sammy and Mickey take part in a gun robbery and Sammy shoots someone dead. This time its blatantly not a game, but it makes reference to "Kids Game"again during this sequence.
The symbolism of the gun shows how much things have changed from when Mickey and Eddie were children. When they were young, everything was for fun and nothing was taken seriously.When they grew up, their responsibilities grew and their views changed. When they were adults the gun was used as a sign of death and threat looming. Which proved to be correct in the end.
The costumes in "Blood Brothers" were as ever, quite simple but then ever more powerful. The costumes provided an outlet again to illustrate division as the two families contrasted.
The "Blood Brothers" audience was predominantly adults. I believe that our school was one of the youngest age groups there. I could understand why there were no children because "Blood Brothers" shows the nastier side and unfairness of life. If I had children I would be unsure whether to take them as the play contains swear language, adult humour and violence I myself found "Blood Brothers" emotional so to small children it would be incomprehensible.
I think the play was suitable for those who saw it, as I think most would have had some background knowledge of what they were going to see. Therefore I believe to some extent most people came emotionally prepared.
The reaction of people who saw it included shock about the sudden death of the two characters.
After the show had finished, I saw people crying and I noticed that it was quieter walking out of the theatre as people were still absorbed in what they had witnessed.
In the audience I know from around me it was deathly silent when the cast sang "Tell me It's Not True", but this was unlike the scene where Mickey shot Eddie where there was audible gasps in the audience. I remember when that happened I was swearing repetitively as quietly as I could! Looking back I think how odd it was that I knew the play and when things happened, but it still totally shocked and unnerved me! I'm also not embarrassed to admit that I shed a tear in "Tell Me It's Not True" because there was so much emotion in that scene of a woman who was in denial that her two sons had died...and they were lying dead in front of her. It was almost as if Mrs Johnstone was facing up to her lie for the first and last time.
The only change I would have put in would be that Eddie's line, "You're a fuckoff!" should have more emphasis and his voice should have been raised. I only think this could change because Collete and I did the same scene in our drama lesson and we felt we gave a more powerful delivery of the line.
Finally, I would definitely recommend going to see "Blood Brothers" to someone my age or above...IT WAS BRILLIANT! The play had me hooked from start to finish with its deep characters, witty and powerful script, and lots of relevance to today's issues. "Blood Brothers" had lots of messages and ideas coming through it, but one interpretation that I deduced was the harrowing idea that love and friendship, no matter how strong, cannot overcome all.
