Review: Blood Brothers at Birmingham Hippodrome
Beginning life as a theatre-in-education project, Willy Russell's drama about twins separated at birth has become the third longest running musical in London.
After a relatively slow start, the touring version now draws sell-out audiences throughout the country.
What makes this show so special is that the author knows how to tell a story.
He also knows that nothing should get in the way of telling the story, and so the plot is slimmed down, with no sub-plots or other distractions.
This puzzle of "nurture or nature" deals with how the boys grow up in their very different levels of society and how fate tragically draws them back together. It's also about characters with whom audiences can identify.
Sean Jones's Mickey is the perfect Scally, always in trouble and always looking for a laugh, but who ends up on the dole and anti-depressants.
On the other hand, Jorden Bird's Eddie benefits from an upper-class upbringing, a private – and later university – education and quickly becomes an influential councillor.
The love interest is provided most capably by Olivia Sloyan's Linda, while Peter Washington makes a remarkable Sammy at short notice.
Local girl Niki Evans may have made her name on X Factor but she has more than proved her worth on the stage in recent years.
The former dinner lady from near Tamworth sings exceptionally well as Mrs Johnstone, giving a moving account of Tell Me It's Not True.
Many of the ladies were keen to see the former Wet Wet Wet Marti Pellow who played the Narrator. However, he didn't seem to offer the menace, or clarity, the part demands, although this didn't really detract from an excellent team performance.
The musical runs at the city centre theatre until November 3.
By Jerald Smith
