Tell Me It's Not True (Blood Brothers)

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Product:	Blood Brothers
Date:	21/05/02 (352 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's timeless, It has no effects/gimmicks, It will surprise you

Disadvantages: NONE, WHATSOEVER, HONEST!

Blood Brothers first appeared on the West End stage in 1983. After transferring from its original home of Liverpool it opened at The Lyric, Shaftesbury Avenue but within six months vanished. Theatre producer Bill Kenwright mourned the show’s demise and set about planning its return. After building a successful reputation in rep all over the country -1998 saw the show return to London. Since then Kiki Dee, Petula Clark, Stephanie Lawrence, Barbara Dickson, Helen Reddy, Carole King, David Cassidy, and David Soul have all appeared in the show both here and on Broadway.

So, what is it about this small musical that has left many theatregoers gob-smacked by its sheer brilliance? It is still playing at the Phoenix Theatre in London and with another tour due – you might be asking yourself why is it still so successful? Is it really that good? Well, come with me to Liverpool where the tale is set and I will try to uncover some of the many reasons behind the success of Blood Brothers.

This simple tale of family ties that has moved everyone who has been lucky enough to sit in the stalls and experience it. From the opening bars of the moving overture you know that you in for a treat. Combine the melodic tones of Enya and a Welsh choir and this gives you some idea of the sounds that haunt you as the story starts to unfold. I will not ruin the plot by revealing the chilling denouement which opens the play. Flashback time now........

TELL ME IT'S NOT TRUE
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Mrs Johnstone (Lynn Paul) is a flighty young lass. She enjoys living life to the full. She has a husband whom she meets at the local dance. She is told that she is sexier than Marilyn Monroe- falls for it and before you know it she is pregnant. The baby is called Darren Wayne. Then three months later Mrs Johnstone is pregnant again. The novelty of marriage and fatherhood proves too much and the father clears off.

Years later Mrs Johnstone t
akes a job as a housekeeper with Mrs Lyons. Mrs Lyons is desperate to have a baby. With Mrs Johnstone expecting twins and unable to provide a life for both babies the easy option is to give up one twin in the hope that it will have a better life. Mrs Lyons is middle class and able to provide. Mrs Johnstone is living off welfare handouts. She decides to go ahead and give up one baby for the sake of her other children. But the past has a nasty way of coming back to haunt you.

Within this moving tale come the moving songs. Among them are:

EASY TERMS
~~~~~~~~~~

An excellent song about living life on the slate. A mother's lament to the child that she will never know.

"LIVING ON THE NEVER-NEVER. CONSTANT AS THE CHANGING WEATHER. NEVER SURE WHO'S AT THE DOOR OR THE PRICE I'LL HAVE TO PAY. SHOULD WE MEET AGAIN I WILL NEVER RECOGNISE YOUR NAME."

A Poignant reminder that love cannot be bought however hard we try.


SECRETS
~~~~~~~

A chilling tale of secrets and lies. The narrator haunts both families ready to spill the beans on an unknown past that will shock both parties.


MARILYN MONROE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A jaunty runing theme which shows us all how how when beauty fades and responsibility increases- relationships sometimes break down. All the compliments and half baked "I Love you's" are replaced by a Dear John...

"HE SAID ME EYES WERE DEEP BLUE POOLS, MY SKIN AS SOFT AS SNOW. HE TOLD ME I WAS SEXIER THAN MARILYN MONROE. WE WENT DANCING...WE WENT DANCING."

Each song is a sad reminder of how hope can lead to disappointment and despair. There is the odd bout of humour by the way before you leg it from the foyer with your head in your hands.

The most moving song in the show has to be:

TELL ME IT'S NOT TRUE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The lyrics are rooted in disbelief.

&q
uot;TELL ME IT'S TRUE. SAY I ONLY DREAMED IT AND MORNING WILL COME SOON. TELL ME IT'S NOT TRUE. SAY YOU DIDN'T MEAN IT. SAY IT'S JUST PRETEND. SAY IT'S JUST THE END...OF AN OLD MOVIE FROM YEARS AGO. FROM AN OLD MOVIE WITH MARILYN MONROE."

This song is like a book-end. The show opens and closes with it. Each time you hear it your eyes will well up knowing what is coming next.

SO THE SHOW IS GOOD, THEN?
==========================

Well you could say that although it's more than that - it's bloody brilliant. Old fashioned? Yeah, sure. But Blood Brothers does not rely on any pyrotechnics or gimmicks. The stage set is very simple. For example a bus ride is recreated using chairs in a long line. But the show does not suffer for this as it does not have to rely on expansive stage sets to cover holes in the story as there are none. The story relies on the age old tale of separated children who meet as adults. So you may feel as if you have seen it somewhere before. But there is something quite magical about the way that the whole production creeps up on you and won't let go of your heartstrings. The music is big, bold and ultimately timeless. The performances each time that I have seen it have been so good that you forget you are watching a musical. For a change the actors can act and sing with equal measures. This is a show where the dialogue compliments the songs. You will not find wooden performances and off key singing here. The rousing finale is likely to have you on your feet in tears and you may find yourself booking to go again. Staying power is proof of how good this show truly is. Cats, Beautiful Game and Starlight Express have all left the West End but Blood Brothers continues to pack 'em in.

OH AND ANOTHER THING
====================

It is worth seeing just for the unique way in which you suspend disbelief at the fact that adults play the parts of their young selves. Put
a man in shorts and a woman in school uniform and you can usually hear the singgering a mile away. You may automatically think of a school reunion. But here the connotations of the school uniform are that of innocence and you will buy into into this plot strand automatically. This is due to the conviction of the actors and Will Russell's wonderfully evocative script. Watch in awe as adult actors take you back to your childhood from spiders and worms through to trips on the school bus.

AND FINALLY...
===============

If you loved Shirley Valentine and cried as she talked to the wall as opposed to her husband, and you like the films of Mike Leigh with their realistic touches and unflinching realism then Blood Brothers could be the night out that you are waiting for. So go on..... book it. Pay for it on the never-never- easy terms!

WHERE IS IT ON?
================

The Phoenix Theatre, Charing Cross Road, LONDON


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AND ON TOUR

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BLOOD BROTHERS TOUR

From July 2002 in the following areas

Milton Keynes
Manchester
Torquay
And Ricmond

See www.ticketmaster.co.uk for more details.

Or ring: 020 7316 4709

Seat prices range from £6.50 to £25.50 on the tour.

Thanks for reading,

Glenn

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