“Blood Brothers” by Willy Russell
Derby Theatre

"So did you here the story
Of the Johnston Twins
As like each other as two new pins
Of one womb born on the self-same day
How one was kept and one given away

And did you never hear how the Johnston's died
never knowing that they shared one name
till the day they died when a mother cried
my own dear sons lie slain

And did you never hear of a mother so cruel
there's a stone in place of her heart
Then bring her on and judge for yourselves
How she came to play this part."

This opening is one of the most iconic openings for a musical, and anyone who knows me, knows that this is my all time favourite musical.

Set in Liverpool during the 1960s, Blood Brothers is a story of nature versus nurture. Recently separated, Mrs Johnstone has been left to provide for seven hungry children. Taking a job as a housekeeper in order to make ends meet, Johnstone finds she is pregnant once again, this time with twins! In a moment of weakness and desperation, she enters a secret pact with her employer and gives one of her new babies away. While Eddie is raised in a wealthy family, Mickey stays with his mum in poverty. But although the fraternal twins are taken to opposite ends of the social spectrum, they unwittingly find each other once again as friends. However, as life progresses, a common love interest and division in their separate career paths make for an explosive climax.

This is the farewell tour for Lyn Paul as Mrs Johnstone, and Lyn is the actor that I have seen more than any other in this role, and for me will always be my favourite Mrs Johnstone. She pours every ounce of emotion into her performance, even after all the time she has played this role.

Robbie Scotcher (Narrator) was as menacing as ever; skulking around the set like a shark keeping an eye on his prey, teasing and tormenting. Robbie has presence and he also has one of those voices that command you listen.

Alexander Patmore (Mickey) had big shoes to fill following on from Sean Jones but he, like Sean, gets under the skin of a seven, nearly eight year old boy and then we see him grow up right before our eyes. The character of Mickey is such a special one in musical theatre, any theatre come to think of it, because we can all associate with depression in some time in our life. Changing from that young carefree little kid to adult Mickey requires an actor who is so focused, and Alexander proves what a focused actor he is.

Shaun McCourt (Eddie) also has that ability to look like a seven year old, but then seem like a University student and Councillor within the space of a few hours. His voice is different to any other Eddie I've seen and it's his vibrato that makes him different. I've always loved the duets between Eddie and Mickey, and this new cast have kept that standard high.

Danielle Corlass (Linda) continues her role and it was great to see her still there. Danielle matures wonderfully in the play and you really get a lump in the throat with her emotional second act.

All three actors, Danielle, Shaun and Alexander,really manage to convince this audience of the time lapse as they grow up, especially with the change in their voices.

Daniel Taylor (Sammy) is another actor who I have had the pleasure in seeing in "Blood Brothers" several times and his comedy is joyful to see as mickey's big brother with some dirty habits that we can all laugh at, because we've all been there; well maybe not where he keeps his worms!

Chloe Taylor (Mrs Lyons) is great as the neurotic and slightly crazy lady and "mother" to Eddie. The decline in her sanity creates a perfect tension, driven by the Narrator's invisible intervention. Chloe has a gorgeous voice and when she duets with Lyn on "My Child" the pair could melt an ice cap.

Tim Churchill (Mr Lyons) injects a levelling influence within the Lyons family, or tries to, but his wife seems to wear the trousers in this relationship.

Another actor that I was pleased to see still in the cast was Graham Martin who played practically every other role from Mr Johnstone to a Policeman to a debt collector to a judge to a pair of teachers; there weren't too many scenes that Graham was not involved in with some character.

A wonderful set design by Andy Walmsley.

Lighting Design by Nick Richings and Sound Design by Dan Samson. In this production, they are the perfect example of how slick the pair work together because of the timing of both to get the maximum tension from the script and the story.

The soundtrack has always been one of my favourites and with songs like "Marilyn Monroe", "My Child", Easy Terms", the jazzy "Long Sunday Afternoon", the gentle swing of "That Guy", "I'm Not Saying A Word" and the song that everyone knows, "Tell Me It's Not True" which gets the emotions going, coupled with the fun "Bright New Day", the cheeky "Kids Games" and the rocky "Shoes Upon The Table", make this musical a musical whirlwind of emotions.

I've always loved the high spirited, fun act one which is in complete contrast to the darker act two. It's a musical where you get value for money as well, with both acts lasting 75 minutes each. And that is 150 minutes of musical theatre ecstasy for me. I've seen this musical many times before, and I will gladly see this show every night of the week.

“Blood Brothers” is at Derby Theatre until Saturday 19 October and is SOLD OUT all week but it may be worth checking with the Box Office to see if there are any ticket returns..