Liverpool Empire – until 29 October 2022
Reviewed by Jen Hughes
5*****
By far, Blood Brothers is one of Liverpool’s most famous and iconic theatrical exports. To review it in Liverpool Empire was something special but to see the cast, largely in tears at the end of the performance, in font of a blistering, standing, tearful ovation , goes somewhat to explain why I want give this performance 10 stars rather than the maximum 5 . Without doubt, the most powerful, emotional, moving performance of song and acting I have ever seen in my history of Blood Brothers.
In his last tour as Mickey, Sean Jones’ portrayal of the depressed poverty facing brother is still haunting me today. His ability to metamorphosize from the explosion of energy of the younger Mickey to the life beaten, redundant older self was nothing short of outstanding. So much so, I had to check and check again that this aged character with a voice full of pain and a body barely moving was not a different actor. I have never heard a packed theatre so silent as every word of his madman self, punched punches and pulled heart strings of the wide-eyed audience.
You know with Blood Brothers you’re going to cry, that’s a given. But I hadn’t accounted for crying with laughter too. Look out for Timothy Lucas’ brief display of the teenage tantrum of Sammy which was on point with every fibre of his body movement and rubber soles of shoes. Hilarious!
Mrs Johnstone, WOW !! The powerhouse that is Nike Colwell Evans ( X- Factor contestant) Blew the roof off the Liverpool Empire multiple times. Her lyrical delivery and a voice full of emotion was a totally, unexpectedly electrifying.
Poverty, inequality, superstition, mothers guilt, family , friendships, loss ….I could go on and on. Blood Brothers has it all, from one extreme to the other. A total emotional rollercoaster with an audience akin to pantomime laughter in Act One to desperate sorrow, pain, and crippling raw emotion in Act Two.
If I could watch this every night I would, it was that good. This really is a must see and you really must bring plenty of tissues.
Well done to every actor, musician and behind the scenes staff. This really was a fine theatrical masterpiece in all its scouse glory!