“A captivating and deeply moving production that proves why this much-loved musical has endured.”
Few musicals have enjoyed the longevity of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, yet despite its familiarity, its exploration of class, inequality and circumstance remains remarkably pertinent today. This latest production at the Oxford Playhouse is a captivating and emotionally charged reminder of why the musical continues to resonate so strongly with audiences.
Set in Liverpool, Blood Brothers follows working-class mother Mrs Johnstone, who discovers she is expecting twins while already struggling to support her family. Unable to provide for two more children, she reluctantly gives one of the twins to her wealthy employer, Mrs Lyons. Mickey and Eddie consequently grow up on opposite sides of the class divide, unaware that they are brothers, before a chance meeting brings them together and begins a friendship that follows them into adulthood.
Vivienne Carlyle gives a compelling performance as Mrs Johnstone, capturing both the warmth and desperation of a woman repeatedly dealt difficult cards. What makes the character particularly sympathetic is the modesty of what she dreams of: security, happiness and a man who will treat her well. An early scene in which bailiffs arrive at her home and even take away a child’s teddy is particularly effective in establishing the reality of her circumstances. Carlyle brings enormous heart to the role, accompanied by an equally impressive vocal performance.
At the centre of the production are Sean Jones as Mickey and Joe Sleight as Eddie, whose chemistry is exceptional. Both convincingly transform from excitable children into adults over the course of the evening. Sleight is particularly entertaining as the young and sheltered Eddie, while Jones demonstrates an impressive range as Mickey’s youthful energy gradually gives way to the realities of adulthood.
Jones becomes especially affecting in the later scenes, portraying a downbeat Mickey struggling with unemployment and depression. The contrast with the carefree child seen earlier is stark, particularly as Eddie’s life takes a very different path. Although the pair began life as twins, the opportunities available to them are shaped profoundly by the circumstances in which they were raised.
It is this exploration of class that allows Blood Brothers to remain so relevant. Against the backdrop of today’s cost-of-living pressures, Mrs Johnstone’s struggle to provide for her family and the increasingly different opportunities available to Mickey and Eddie feel particularly pertinent. The musical may have been written decades ago, but the questions it raises around financial insecurity and social mobility are far from outdated.
Kristofer Harding is another commanding presence as the Narrator. His impressive vocals and almost ever-present role in the unfolding story create an eerie sense of foreboding, reminding the audience that the warmth and humour on stage is ultimately moving towards something much darker.
And there is plenty of humour throughout. Watching Mickey and Eddie navigate childhood produces some of the biggest laughs of the evening, with both actors fully committing to the mannerisms and innocence of their younger selves. These lighter moments make the transition into adulthood, and the realities that accompany it, all the more powerful.
Visually, the production is relatively simple, with housing and Liverpool’s Liver Buildings providing the backdrop. The understated staging allows the performances to remain firmly at the centre. Interestingly, the orchestra performs off-site, but the music integrates so seamlessly that this takes nothing away from the experience.
Musically, Tell Me It’s Not True remains at the emotional heart of the production. Even when the tragic conclusion is well known, the final scenes lose little of their impact. The gunshots remain genuinely shocking, and the ending is devastating.
The standing ovation that greeted the cast felt thoroughly deserved. More than 40 years on, Blood Brothers remains entertaining, moving and painfully relevant, and this mesmerising production demonstrates exactly why audiences continue to return to it.
Blood Brothers was reviewed at the Oxford Playhouse on Tuesday 22nd September and runs until Saturday 26th September. Tickets are available here.