Monday night was the opening night of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers, a production which so many friends have always told me I needed to see, so as it was on at the Rhyl Pavilion, how could I pass up the chance of checking out the legendary show.
The musical, written by Willy Russell, has had such a big following from over the last 29 years since its first performance at the Liverpool Playhouse, it is the story of twins who were separated at birth and grow up on the opposite side of the tracks and how two people’s lives can be so different even though are only miles apart.
The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True, it also feature West End star and multi-platinum selling artist Marti Pellow who has returned to the role of the Narrator and the critically acclaimed Maureen Nolan, reprising her role as the tragic Mrs. Johnstone, in this smash hit musical.
Few musicals have received such acclaim as the multi-award winning Blood Brothers. Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone. It has been affectionately christened the Standing Ovation Musical.
As I mentioned earlier I’ve been told so many times that I need to see the show and I am so glad that I have finally got around to seeing it at our very own local theatre, the Rhyl Pavilion.
Blood Brothers for Life!
Right from the very start of the evening I just knew that the show was going to be something exciting, emotional and funny. With Marti Pellow as the narrator, a kind of conscience for the characters, he would bring all the key moments together throughout the performance and what a performance it was.
With Pellow in the shadows during the time the other cast were on stage, almost watching over them, like a some sort of God watching over those that he is setting on a path through their lives, it was rather strange, but it worked brilliantly, giving you that unnerving feeling when you just notice him in the shadows lurking, walking past one of the windows in the background or looking down from a balcony.
As the story unfolds and Mrs Johnstone is trying to keep everything together and worrying about not getting welfare for her family, she makes a heart-breaking decision to give one of her babies away to the wealthy woman that she works for and so the two very different lives for the boys is set, Maureen Nolan is fantastic as Mrs Johnstone, you could feel all the passion that a mother has for her loving family and she certainly put across a stellar performance at the Rhyl Pavilion, there were moments when I even felt myself welling up a little during the evening.
One thing that is very strange in the show, but it works very well, is seeing the actors playing the same part through the years, it was a little bizarre at first seeing them in shorts acting like 7 year-olds riding around the stage on imaginary horses and tying them up, but it was just so funny that it brought so much humour in to such a powerful and thought-provoking story.
Act one was certainly had more of the light-hearted feel, except for those moments when the narrator (Marti Pellow) came in with the dark overtones, but it worked well to bring you down with a thud on what the story was about an how things in life can suddenly change.
Act two on the other hand was the darker side of the evening, we’d seen the boys growing up from babies and through to their teens, now was the time for the adult side of their lives as things would take a turn for the worse, specially for Mickey who would have a life that no mother ever wants their son to have.
All the cast certainly pulled in a great performance for opening night and I really can’t give them enough praise for a very enjoyable night.
The Changing Sets of Blood Brothers
I can’t finish this article without mentioning the set during the show, wow, there certainly is a real feel to the depth on the stage of Blood Brothers with the rows of houses on either side of the stage, throughout the performance, but with some clever drop in scenery and set pieces, we were taken to so many places from the road that the Johnstones live to fairground and even the countryside.
It was all so wonderfully done and done quickly and seamlessly, which certainly help in not distracting the audience from the story.
What a night, Blood Brothers is funny, emotional and brilliant, I have seen many musicals in the past, but the show has to be the one that has me wanting to go back again to see it, it’s no wonder that the Rhyl Pavilion was packed on the first night and people go and see it over and over again. I spoke to a few people who have seen the show so many times over the years that they know it off by heart and still come back for more, I can see why, superb.
Blood Brothers is on at the Rhyl Pavilion until the Saturday 2nd May, evening performances at 7:30pm Wednesday 29th April & Saturday 2nd May Matinee Performances at 2:30pm
Ticket Prices: Monday All seats £18 Tuesday – Thursday Evenings £24, £21 concessions £2 off higher price seats, £1 off lower price seats (Family Tickets and Group discounts available from the Box Office) Wednesday Matinee All seats £18 Friday & Saturday Evenings £26, £22 no concessions Saturday Matinee All seats £20, children half price with a full paying adult.
For more details and booking visit the Rhyl Pavilion website at www.rhylpavilion.co.uk or call the Box Office on 01745 33 33 00
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
