Review: Blood Brothers is “full of happiness and sorrow”

Blood Brothers is a musical about brotherhood and trying to maintain a unique bond.

The stage is set for an older looking Liverpool with rustic brickwork surrounding the stage.

Narrator Richard Munday helps tell the story between takes and ever present throughout the show, guiding the audience along with the action.

The characters act around him and with him at some points and he is so brilliantly placed, you forget he is there most of the time.

Willy Russel wrote the musical and what a fantastic job he did! Well written and placed comedy is hard to portray, but with the help of the incredible actors, it is pulled off amazingly.

The music is also phenomenal with the actors hitting movements on beat which is timed so well.

Dan Samson is to credit for the sound and Tim Whiting for the music.

A highlight for me is easily Niki Colwell Evans who plays Mrs Johnstone.

She is the mother of the brothers and is very present in the entire show. She has a way of making you feel sad yet happy at the same time despite the beginning of the story not being sad.

You grow up with Mrs Johnstone  and you want her to be happy but as her journey goes on, it gets slightly worse.

And then we follow through her life and journey of trying to maintain a good life for her seven children.

Not only is she a superb actress, but her voice is heard all around the stage and seating area.

She sings with such raw emotion, it brings the songs to life.

Sean Jones is Mickey Johnstone until the 19th of November and my what a performance.

He made a guest sat in front of me cry which is a big achievement given his lines and the rawness of which they were delivered with. He held his own throughout the show and has the audience laughing quite a bit.

His chemistry with Jay Worley who plays Eddie is perfect. Jay Worley has a good few one liners that help Sean Jones hit his comedy lines well. Both of the brothers were simply perfection and they make the show what it is.

Blood Brothers is a show full of happiness and sorrow and may have you leaving the theatre empty, just as I did.

Bill Kenwright’s legendary, award-winning production of the international smash hit musical, Blood Brothers is running at The Lowry, Salford from Tuesday 18 – Saturday 22 October.

You can get tickets by clicking here.