The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
You will laugh and cry
Blood Brothers, New Theatre until Saturday
Ihave been lucky enough to see several touring versions of Blood Brothers and liken watching it again to catching up with an old friend - you kind of know what to expect but there might be a surprise or two in store for you. Yes, the multi-award-winning musical from Willy Russell has been around for years but it still has that ability to grab your attention from the first scene, as the audience at Tuesday’s opening night - many like me having seen it previously I am sure will vouch.
It is a show that certainly touches every emotion, one minute it is laugh out loud, the next it is tugging at the heartstrings - the story of a down-onher-luck single mum who, to protect her already overgrown family, secretly gives away one of her new born twins to the childless lady whose posh house she cleans.
And as the black-clad, omnipresent narrator (the excellent, brooding Robbie Scotcher) reminds us throughout .... there is a price to pay as the young boys’ paths cross, not knowing their true relationship, instead becoming childhood ‘blood brothers’.
It is a still, despite its age and setting, relevant piece of drama, dealing with a mother’s love, friendship, lies and deceit, povert and privelege, the haves and have nots - and ultimately what feelings of helplessness and depression will drive a man to do.
Paula Tappenden replaced the poorly Niki Evans as Mrs Johnstone and was outstanding - empathising with the plight of her character is vital to the success of the show and she won me over.
There were the usual terrific performances from old hats Sean Jones (Mickey), Joel Benedict(Eddie) and Danny Taylor (Sammy), and stand-in Grace Galloway as Mrs Lyons - a character that sometimes get overlooked - also shone.
Atmospheric lighting, a great set, seamless set changes from a polished cast, stirring music and songs with real meaning - this is a show I will never tire of seeing.
And the finale, as Mrs Johnstone breaks into the classic Tell Me It’s Not True, is no less haunting and as emotionally charged as ever.
No surprises the audience were on their feet applauding at the end.