“Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell
Nottingham Theatre Royal

I may be slightly biased here because this is my all-time favourite musical and has been for many years now, so I start with great expectations of the show.

It’s the story of Mrs Johnstone and her ever growing brood of children. She is a one parent family who is struggling to make ends meet after her husband leaves her for a younger woman who looks like Marilyn Monroe. Before he leaves though she finds herself in the family way again, but this time it’s twins! She takes a cleaning job for a well to do couple to try and make ends meet, but the only way that she and her family are going to stand any chance of doing this is to sell one of the new born twins.

What a devastating decision for any mother to have to make but she has to think of her other children. The woman that she is currently cleaning for, Mrs Lyons, has always wanted a baby, but so far has failed, well you can see where this is going from here can’t you?

The brothers, Mickey and Eddie, are separated but fate steps in and they unwittingly meet as children and forge a strong friendship, becoming blood brothers. Mrs Lyons gets more worried about Eddie’s friendship with Mickey and moves her family to the country, but again fate steps in and, even though the brothers grow up in different worlds, that bond is strong and blood is thicker than water, right to the end……

What I love about this musical is that you have a musical of two halves. The first Act is bright, uplifting, funny and heart-warming but come Act Two and that all changes as we see a darker side of their downward spiralling life, and even after seeing this wonderful; musical so many times, that opening of “Tell Me It’s Not True” still gets the hair on my arms and back of the neck standing up.

Linzi Hateley plays Mrs Johnstone, and this is her first time in this role. Linzi made me realise that it's the character that you fall in love with and as long as the actor playing her does the amazing job we have come to expect from the past Mrs Johnstone, then all is well. Linzy has followed in the big footsteps of women like Lyn Paul, Linda Nolan, Maureen Nolan and Mel C, all excellent actors, and Linzi is absolutely no different as the baton is passed on.

The role is incredibly emotional and powerful and Linzi retained everything that we have come to know and love about Mrs Johnstone. Her voice is so expressive at all ends of the scale.

Much of the cast has not changed over the years and this shows that the producers and directors have so much faith in these actors to give incredible performances. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Sean Jones is Mickey. As far as I can remember I have seen Sean in this role every time that I have seen this show and for me, he is Mickey, I can’t envisage anyone else playing this character.

As always, his performance is great fun to watch as the seven - nearly eight year old. In comparison, as adult Mickey, he creates an aura of a very different kind, and he still evokes that nervousness in me, even though I know this musical so well, he still makes me believe in the role.

Mark Hutchinson is Eddie, again I saw him play this role back in 2017 and, like Sean, gives a wonderful child-like quality to the role in Act One and a more mature performance as an adult Eddie in Act Two.Great to see him reprising Eddie.

Danny Taylor is the big brother, Sammy, again back from playing him the last time he was here in 2017. Ditto as above.

Danielle Corlass plays Linda. I saw her play this role in 2015 and again in 2017, and she has not aged one bit. Her transformation from fourteen year old schoolgirl into a beautiful wife and expectant mother is quite magical.

Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Lyons and Tim Churchill is Mr Lyons, both reprising their parts. Both wonderful character actors, and I have said this before in my reviews, Sarah's voice is one that I could listen to all night.

The Narrator for this show is Robbie Scotcher, adding that touch of menace, as if the devil had their number and was watching over the families. A vital role in this musical who applies the glue to the storylines, sprinkling a supernatural unease whenever he appears.

One of the busiest actors in this musical is Graham Martin who seems to play every other role.

The ensemble cast though also work incredibly hard with multiple roles per actor.

Like watching your favourite film you see some something that maybe you've not seen on the previous view, and that is so with this production., I am not sure if I missed it previously but there is a beautiful bit when Mrs Johnstone is kneeling down between the twins at the end and she joins their hands together. This simple action just spoke volumes.

Co Directed by Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright, the pace and presentation is perfect.

The songs in this show, for me anyway, are just brilliant. From the playful “Kids’s Games” to the optimistic “Bright New Day”, the jazzy "Long Sunday Afternoon", the wistful “Marilyn Monroe” to the iconic “Tell Me It’s Not True”, which on it’s own, played on the radio is a beautiful ballad. In the context of this musical it is highly emotional. Willy Russell who is a great playwright also wrote the score for this musical.

This story of brotherhood, motherhood, friendship, love, superstition, jealousy and depression will always be relevant, and as long as the emotional element remains as high as it has over the last few decades, this musical will remain one of the best loved pieces of musical theatre.

Go and see this if you've never seen it before, and if you have seen it before, go and see it again, and take your hanky, you'll need it! Still, in my humble opinion, the best musical running.

The wonderful “Blood Brothers” is at the Nottingham Theatre Royal until Saturday 16 February 2019.