Blood Brothers Revival?- Page 2

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 6:10pm

"Is why they're all so damn obsessed
With Marilyn Monroe"

Which is funny when it comes to casting. With Stephanie Lawrence, you could see that people might think she resembled MM. But I saw it again with Carole King, and there's no way that anyone would mistake Carole King for MM.

[Tink2]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 6:58pm

"He said I looked a bit like Marilyn Monroe" was a line that her philandering husband had used when they were dating. It could have possibly been the only "compliment" she had ever received. As her life began to fall apart, and she grew older, it was the one thing she could cling to. I think she keeps going back to it because it reminds her that there was once a time in her life when she was happy, went dancing and, perhaps, looked a bit like Marilyn Monroe. That was my take, anyway.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 7:06pm

I always assumed her husband was putting her on when he told her that she looked like Marilyn Monroe.

I love Blood Brothers though. I'm actually surprised Bill Kenwright has never revived it on Broadway. I'm not sure that it was ever a mega hit in the West End, but it sure ran for a long time. Sort of like The Fantasticks in the US. You'd think someone would have tried to make a long-running hit out of it in NY by now.

[Tink2]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 7:22pm

"I always assumed her husband was putting her on when he told her that she looked like Marilyn Monroe."

Yes, I think it was a line he used on any blonde he was with, but I think she took it to heart.

Updated On: 4/7/14 at 07:22 PM

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 7:22pm

Oh it certainly was a mega hit, not in the same league as Wicked or Lion King though, but still a big money maker though, so cheap to stage, there is still a touring production on tour in the UK and this has played virtually anywhere that has a stage.

A great show, but quintessential very English though, may find feet actually with an off Broadway revival.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 7:49pm

Blood Brothers was a terrific show. Saw it on Broadway with Helen Reddy and it was a thrill getting to hear her sing live. I've always loved her voice. Was also fortunate to catch it again with Amy Robbins in London in 2011 before it closed.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 8:20pm

Awful night of theatre, hopefully it will never see the light of day again.

It sees the light of day quite often, regionally. Should it have a Broadway revival, you could just choose not to see it.

The book is the biggest problem, and not because of the politics. It's the idiotic premise, and the obvious ending.

I like the book and its rather obvious modern take on Greek tragedy.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 8:22pm

Marilyn Monroe is Mrs. Johnstone's motif. Remember in Act 2 she sings

Thank God he only got probation
the judge was old and slow
though it was kind of him
said I reminded him of Marilyn Monroe

So it's more than just her husband who made the MM comparison.

[BobNC]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 8:36pm

I saw it with Stephanie Lawrence and 3 times with Carole King.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 8:43pm

I think it did so well in the UK because the theme of the musical involves the class system, which in the US wasn't so much of a problem until Obama took office.

Is your post a joke, Goth? The U.S. has always had classes and class struggles (look at the history of the Labor Movement; even our own Revolution was a middle class action about which the working classes were decidedly ambivalent).

The difference between us and Britain is that our cultural mythology encourages us to pretend we have no classes.

Updated On: 4/7/14 at 08:43 PM

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 11:37pm

FishermanBob--Helen Reddy is doing a tour in Australia as I type-coming out of a 10year retirement after singing at her sisters'[Toni Lamond-an Australian theatre legend]80th. Wish I had seen her in anything-love her voice-wonder how much it has changed over the years? Lana Cantrell is another with a very unique voice who unfortunately is no longer singing [now a very successful theatre artist lawyer in NY].

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 4/7/14 at 11:56pm

Sweetlips, from what I understand, unfortunately time and age have taken just a bit of a toll on her voice and she loses her place and forgets a few words sometimes but I'm sure she's still wonderful to listen to and with the love her fans have for her, she rightfully gets cut a lot of slack. She did a few dates in the states in 2012 I think after her long break but she didn't want to do most of her hits instead opting to perform songs that were her favorites and she felt never got the attention they should have. You would have loved her in Blood Brothers - her voice was so smooth, like vocal velvet.

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 12:43am

What a wonderful response-thanks-vocal velvet-must use that-hope not in the sentence "rememember when her voice was like vocal velvet'
I am seeing her on the weekend in Sydney and will be a little disappointed if I don't hear the songs I sang[?] along with all those years ago. I saw Dionne Warwick and almost cried in disappointment,Diana Ross,Liza,Bette-the sparks are there but there is not much left of the fire.Why ? But as you said-fans give them slack but I find it hard to do that.Sorry to ramble but I was there for that concert in Melbourne when Judy Garland arrived over an hour late and proceeded to wrap the mic.cord around the poor lead violinist neck.When Judy sang-all was forgiven-but then the next song-not a hope-now THAT was a sad night. From Blood Bros to Helen to Judy.Where's Melissa M,Manhatten T ? Think I need a lie down.Thanks for the memories FB.

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 2:09am

SweetLips, after your post, I did a quick search. There's a review in the Morning Herald from this past Saturday about her current show which she just performed in Melbourne. She'll be doing the big hits you are looking forward to but the show may not be as tight or polished as it might have been 20 years ago. Still should be an enjoyable evening.

All the more reason I marvel at people like James Earl Jones, Brian Dennehy, Cicely Tyson, Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Angela Lansbury and many others who continue to tackle extremely demanding stage roles 8 times a week well into their 70's and 80's and rarely miss a beat or flub a line. If I am lucky enough to reach that age, I'll be happy to remember what I had for dinner the night before.

BTW, cute story I read about her living arrangements a few years ago. Here's the relevant paragraph:

"In April 2008, Reddy was reported to be living "simply and frugally off song royalties, pension funds, and social security...[renting] a 13th-floor apartment with a 180-degree view of Sydney Harbour."[14] Her apartment had been recently appraised, causing Reddy concern over its future affordability; however, the New York-based landlord learned his tenant's identity and wrote her: "I had no idea it was THE Helen Reddy who was living in my unit. Because of what you have done for millions of women all over the world, I will not sell or raise your rent. I hope you'll be very happy living there for years to come."




Updated On: 4/8/14 at 02:09 AM

[SweetLips]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 2:53am

Isn't it wonderful to be kind and generous with your possessions-a heartwarming story.There is/was a lot of unhappiness in that family,but boy, the talent-Helen,Toni and Tony Sheldon.I am so looking forward to the concert,remembering,as you have made me do-I thank you....[what,and how you write, always gives me pause].

If we continue on like this FB, I will be labeled 'straight curious'.

Updated On: 4/8/14 at 02:53 AM

[FishermanBob]

Posted: 4/8/14 at 3:13am

'straight curious'

I love it!

[WickedGinger]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 7:38am

I would like to see Megan Hilty as Mrs Johnstone and John Barrowman as the Narrator… What do you think?

[candydog2]

Posted: 4/13/14 at 7:40pm

I've always loved this musical, but then I'm from England and used to live up north where the show is set.

Anyway, I can see why it perhaps wasn't a hit over in the US. It's just VERY British. VERY Liverpool, and not the Liverpool that Americans know from the Beatles. The accents, the humour, the characterisations - it's all so northern that I can see why many across the pond didn't get into it.

Of course there are many reasons for its popularity in the UK. First of all, for many many years it was a studied text as part of the GCSE course (and may still be today, I really don't know), which is an important set of exams taken by high school students in the UK. This is one of the major reasons that it managed to run both a West End and touring production simultaneously and still find a new audience year after year. In fact many high schools take their students to see it on a school trip when it arrives in town.

It's hit status when it debuted, and it's triumphant return later to the stage made it a fond favourite for a particular generation also, which guaranteed many revisits for people who remembered how touched they were the first time they saw it. The story may be rather contrived, but you can't deny the ending is very powerful. The music is catchy, if dated, but the script stands up years later, but perhaps because it's time period is still within living memory. I can't say how well received it would be in 50 years, but that could be said of many musicals.

The bad point for me is the orchestrations. They're very 80s and I think if the show were to get a revival the music could be updated a little without losing the tone of the original score.

My other tiny TINY gripe with the show is about the ending. SPOILER: When the guns that kill both brothers are fired, they're so loud that they cause the audience to jump violently. The audience are then so distracted laughing at themselves that it takes the sting out of the most powerful point of the show.