REVIEW: Blood Brothers - StoryHouse Chester

Monday was Press night for Willy Russell's iconic Blood Brothers which runs at Storyhouse Chester until Saturday 14th October. 

Directed by Bob Tomson and produced by Bill Kenwright, starring Lyn Paul as mother to the Johnstone twins, the show tells a highly emotive and impactful story about a struggling lone parent with several children and the contrasting lives of her fraternal twins Eddie and Mickey who were separated at birth but reunited with dire consequences.

A narrator is an almost permanent fixture and opens the show with "Did you hear the story of the Johnstone twins who died never knowing that they shared one name until they died?" We, the audience are taken on a journey as we learn of the sequence of events that led to Mrs Johnstone falling on hard times and her heart being replaced with stone. With Liverpool references throughout, there is a wonderful sense of familiarity and a feeling of affinity to the plight of the characters.

People see the musical time and time again and this was certainly the case for my wonderful friend Traci who accompanied me as my plus one for the evening. The musical is her all time favourite  and she has lost count of the number of times that she has sat in the audience to enjoy the production. Such is the strength and poignancy of the story-line, the calibre of the actors and the quality of the production. There is no surprise that Blood Brothers pulls in the crowds time and time again. Unsurprisingly, the tour at Storyhouse is a sell-out.

Sean Jones plays twin Mickey and he is truly magnificent. He convincingly portrays Mickey as a small boy. We first meet him aged 7 - nearly 8. He has played in both the West End and on the national tour. He is such a talented actor and the audience buy into him and his plight as he embarks on the fateful journey underpinned by struggle throughout his life. Kudos to Sean for being so skilled in his depiction of Mickey. Mark Hutchinson plays Eddie who is Mickey's twin brother who's fate sees him living a more wealthy existence. Whilst I did not find him thoroughly convincing as a younger Eddie, he came into his own as adult Eddie and as an integral member of the cast. The synergy between him and Sean Jones was remarkable. 

Lyn Paul was fabulous throughout. Despite one scene where she unfortunately had to clear her throat mid-song, she was faultless in her portrayal of Mrs Johnstone. She first debuted in this role back in 1997 on the West End. I loved her performance, she epitomised strength and love.

Daniel Taylor was a fantastic Sammy; older brother to the twins and he portrayed the reckless, rebellious attitude of the older sibling with charisma and ease. He balanced beautifully the humour and carefree nature of Sammy whilst juxtaposing the desperation and heavyhearted aspects of his persona. The gravitas that he displayed whenever he appeared on stage was unquestionable.

Me and fabulous Daniel Taylor after the show

Alison Crawford was exceptional in her role as Linda - the love interest of both of the twins. 

The show is captivating from the outset. With the powerful narration and the fast pace of the plot as the adult cast play out the puerility of the young characters, your eyes are glued to the set. There is a roller coaster of emotion as you laugh at the innocence of Mickey, Eddie, Sammy, Linda et al as they mount their imaginary horses during their play. Conversely, the depth of the emotion that you experience as you witness the heart wrenching scenes that unfold before you is quantifiable, leaving you breathless and on the verge of tears at times. 

Dean Chisnall was the omnipresent narrator and he was powerful and haunting as he cued the scenes. His vocals were extremely impressive both solo and during duets with other cast members. Not forgetting Sarah Jane Buckley who played Eddie's adoptive mother and Tim Churchill as her husband, they also delivered strong and credible performances.

My friend and plus one Traci and Daniel Taylor

A scene from the stunning set with the Liver building in the background

Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in the West End and is one of  three musicals ever to have achieved that milestone. The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True.

I'm not quite sure why it has taken me so long to watch this phenomenal show. It certainly did not disappoint and was an enthralling watch. The story is deeply moving and the impact will remain for the longest time. You will undoubtedly love this performance. Hopefully, you did not delay and were able to purchase tickets as soon as they were released for this excellent venue.

Read more about Blood Brothers at StoryHouse Chester here

PR Rating - Brilliant

Duration 120 mins