Post by rcolemanuk on Feb 14, 2008 19:27:20 GMT 1
This is the review from my site written for the version i saw in Weymouth. note the cast has changed since the review was written
This was my 10th 'anniversary' viewing of this marvellous show in Weymouth. The current tour cast included many people who have been performing in the show for years. Linda Nolan, Stephen Palfreman, Drew Ashton and Tracey Spencer are just a few. So what makes the 10th time any different to the 3rd, 4th and 5th times I hear you say. Well the truth is every show is different. Different actors/actresses mean the characters are portrayed differently, yes the lines are the same and so is the bulk, but it's the way they portray their character and they work so hard to get you to see the character in their view, most succeed admirably. Also, no matter how many times you see it, you are always figuring something new out. The story itself is not complex, two twins, because of money issues, are separated at birth and along with the superstition (if they ever find out they were one of a pair they will both immediately die) it becomes a story of fate which is both extremely humorous and intensely dramatic to say the least.
Linda Nolan plays Mrs Johnstone superbly and has been doing so for around 4 years now was as good as ever. Stephen Plafreman returns to play Mickey after a couple of years break. He makes a worthy return only I felt in some of the really dramatic bits he just whispered the lines. Ok if like us you were on the front row, but impossible to hear from a few rows back even. Otherwise it was a compelling performance. Mrs Lyons AKA Tracey Spencer has been playing the role for a while now and has 'matured' in the role superbly since my last visit. Drew Ashton (Eddie) worked extremely well with Mickey and lastly the Narrator played by Keith Burns is still fantastic in his dominating role.
Weymouth sees the penultimate destination for the 2005 tour with the last one being in York. With several tour dates already announced for 2006, it continues to be a success in every town it reaches. Blood Brothers is by no means your usual theatre. If you think you are going to be left cheered up at the end then think again. The show is extremely funny throughout the first 2/3rds of the show when it turns into one of the most intense, dramatic pieces you are ever likely to experience on the stage before it ends in the tragic way that is inevitable from the start. You have to be able to enter the minds of the characters to fully understand what they go through and the situations they are put in, especially for the final scene to get the most out of the show. This is definitely a show not to be missed and is on my list for next year and is one you will want to see again. Oh and don't forget the tissues.
This was my 10th 'anniversary' viewing of this marvellous show in Weymouth. The current tour cast included many people who have been performing in the show for years. Linda Nolan, Stephen Palfreman, Drew Ashton and Tracey Spencer are just a few. So what makes the 10th time any different to the 3rd, 4th and 5th times I hear you say. Well the truth is every show is different. Different actors/actresses mean the characters are portrayed differently, yes the lines are the same and so is the bulk, but it's the way they portray their character and they work so hard to get you to see the character in their view, most succeed admirably. Also, no matter how many times you see it, you are always figuring something new out. The story itself is not complex, two twins, because of money issues, are separated at birth and along with the superstition (if they ever find out they were one of a pair they will both immediately die) it becomes a story of fate which is both extremely humorous and intensely dramatic to say the least.
Linda Nolan plays Mrs Johnstone superbly and has been doing so for around 4 years now was as good as ever. Stephen Plafreman returns to play Mickey after a couple of years break. He makes a worthy return only I felt in some of the really dramatic bits he just whispered the lines. Ok if like us you were on the front row, but impossible to hear from a few rows back even. Otherwise it was a compelling performance. Mrs Lyons AKA Tracey Spencer has been playing the role for a while now and has 'matured' in the role superbly since my last visit. Drew Ashton (Eddie) worked extremely well with Mickey and lastly the Narrator played by Keith Burns is still fantastic in his dominating role.
Weymouth sees the penultimate destination for the 2005 tour with the last one being in York. With several tour dates already announced for 2006, it continues to be a success in every town it reaches. Blood Brothers is by no means your usual theatre. If you think you are going to be left cheered up at the end then think again. The show is extremely funny throughout the first 2/3rds of the show when it turns into one of the most intense, dramatic pieces you are ever likely to experience on the stage before it ends in the tragic way that is inevitable from the start. You have to be able to enter the minds of the characters to fully understand what they go through and the situations they are put in, especially for the final scene to get the most out of the show. This is definitely a show not to be missed and is on my list for next year and is one you will want to see again. Oh and don't forget the tissues.