Wycombe Swan, High Wycombe – until Saturday 25th April 2026
Reviewed by Rachel Clark
5*****
The multi award winning musical is in Wycombe! This story was written by Willy Russell in 1981 and first performed as a musical in 1983. The musical is set in the North of England. Willy Russell came from Liverpool and the City of Liverpool appeared in the stage background. This musical tells a story of twin brothers, separated at birth and they grow up leading totalling different lives, one rich one poor. They come together unintentionally but to what cost? Mickey Johnstone and his family represent the working class that were affected by the economic downturn which happened in the 1980’s whilst his brother Edward Lyons grew up with a middle-class family that thrived.
This musical has the luxury of a live orchestra, that you don’t always get and they were superb, the Musical Director being Matt Malone.
It started with the Narrator who was Richard Mundy and he was very good, dressed to impress and he had a clear voice with a slight Liverpudlian accent – ‘Did you ever hear the story of the Johnstone twins?’ Then Mrs Johnstone played by Vivienne Carlyle came on stage, her voice was so clear and projecting she was a wonderful singer. All cast played exceptionally well, Laura Harrison as Mrs Lyons and then we had Mickey, what a character he was played by Sean Jones, you got taken in by believing he was ‘7 nearly 8’. Mickey’s brother Eddie was played by Joe Sleight and Linda was played exceptionally well by Gemma Brodrick. Alex Harland played the teacher as well as the policeman, it made me giggle when one minute he was the teacher at the private school and then the teacher at Mickey’s school and to transform from one part to the other he ruffled his hair!
The set was like a permanent stage, very well done and the props were moved on and off mainly by the narrator, to which you barely noticed.
This is a superb musical so well done that got a standing ovation, a true classic not to be missed and plenty of school children attended the show as it is part of the school curriculum, by the clapping and cheering at the end they thoroughly enjoyed it. There were lots if different age groups in the theatre which is lovely to see, all the different generations enjoying an amazing musical.