Darliington Hippodrome – until 24 February 2018
5*****
Perennial favourite Blood Brothers returns to the newly restored and renamed Darlington Hippodrome this week and received a rapturous reception. This joy of a show is from the Bill Kenwright stables; with book, music and lyrics written by Willy Russell
Every version I have seen of this show has been different and every actor brings a different take on their part so it never gets the chance to be stale, however this version appears to have new life breathed into it with what seemed like shiney new sets and the cast being able to take full advantage of the new larger Darlington stage.
Telling the story of the Johnstone twins, the boys, Mickey and Edward, grow up on opposite sides of the track and disaster is predicted should they ever meet … but destiny draws them together and without knowing they are siblings, they become blood brothers
Set in Liverpool in the seventies, Mathew Craig snarls his way through the role of Narrator, spreading malevolence in his role of Devil in human form. Even in scenes where he doesn’t speak his presence just exudes menace.
Lyn Paul was unfortunately indisposed so we were treated to Sarah Jane Buckley in the role of Mrs Johnson. Buckley had been playing Mrs Lyons on the tour so by stepping into the new role we had Sarah Rayner in her first night as Mrs Lyons. Buckley is phenomenal as matriarch Mrs Johnstone. Her playing age seems to fit better and her Scouse accent is not as pronounced as it could be which gives the image of nice convent girl gone bad after meeting a man. She has a powerhouse of a voice, squeezing every bit of feeling out of her vocals. Her show stopping rendition of Tell Me it’s Not True takes your breath away and your heart genuinely breaks with the raw emotion in her performance. Watching her visibly age with the last few scenes is amazing. The mixture of weariness and warm affection with which she regards her children is palpable throughout. And at the end, with her twin sons lying dead before her, her face is a clenched mask of grief as she sings the climactic anthem with a power and bitterness that sends shivers racing down the spine.
Sarah Rayner as the desperate Mrs Lyons is outstanding. Her desire to have a baby leading her to make the pact with Mrs Johnson for one of the twins, and the guilt for what she has done shapes her life and causes the inevitable mental breakdown. Keeping the secret from her husband (Tour Director Tim Churchill). But Mrs Lyons plays the final fatal part in telling Mickey about Linda and Eddie’s friendship and planting the seeds of doubt in Mickey’s fragile brain. She might as well have shot the gun herself for the part she plays in this terrible tragedy
The twins are played by Mark Hutchinson as upper class and indulged Eddie, the child who was given away, and Sean Jones as Mickey the child who was kept. Jones delivers an outstanding performance ranging in age over the best part of 20 years. In his hand me down jumper and ragged shorts he is genuinely believable seven year old who is nearly eight, his 14 year old is hilarious and his tragic spiral down into despair in his later years is distressing to watch. Such is the performance that you really do believe in his problems and forget that he is acting.
Danielle Corlass plays Linda, the innocent caught in the crossfire, in love with both brothers and both in love with her. But it is Mickey who marries her after getting her pregnant although it is Eddie who helps her and Mickey in the later years. She manages to layer the part with subtlety and show genuine tragedy
The whole company take on many roles throughout, and are adept and highly skilled in morphing into many diverse characters, from many walks of life, of various ages. Watching brother Sammy (Daniel Taylor) age from a 10 year old tearaway to an adult career criminal. A milkman become a gynaecologist with referenced humour and best change of all, for me, Graham Martin going from Private School Tutor to State School Teacher was fabulous.
Powerful, apt orchestration and superb lighting sets each scene impeccably, and add essential dynamic to the dramatic effect. As an audience we laughed, we cried and we jumped in surprise
Although plot, music and execution are exceptional, it is the immense overwhelming rush of emotions that you experience during the show that stays with you for along time after you have left the theatre.
Do not attempt to see it without a stack of tissues.
In Darlington until Saturday 24 February and on tour around the UK.