BLOOD BROTHERS

[Joe Mike2]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 8:19pm

Anyone else out there love this show?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 8:22pm

There are a few of us, yes.

Do a search - this is asked about ever month.

[Joe Mike2]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 8:26pm

Sorry. I just found this message board a few days ago.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 10:16pm

is it still playing in london?

[Creative Lunatic]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 10:39pm

Saw it years ago in London --and found it engaging

[PottstownTeacher]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:05pm

Hell yes I love this show! Saw it 6 times! Once with Stephanie Lawrence, twice with Petula Clark, once with Carole King, once with Helen Reddy and then once in Philly. I also directed a production of it at my local community theatre. No, it's not for everyone. You either love it or you hate it. I am in the former category!

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:11pm

I saw a fantastic production of it last year. It's an amazing show.

Edited- month? year? It's all the same...

Updated On: 12/17/05 at 11:11 PM

[MissElphie]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:19pm

saw it about 4 or 5 times in Toronto. I really liked it.

[MissElphie]

Posted: 12/17/05 at 11:19pm

saw it about 4 or 5 times in Toronto. I really liked it.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 7:22am

I love it, and fortunately it is still playing in London (though it looks like the set is the only thing stopping the theatre falling down!).

[fiatlux]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 7:48am

I must admit to being old enough to seeing Blood Brothers when it first arrived in London with Barbara Dickson as my favourite Mrs Johnstone. I also had a great affection for Stephanie Lawrence, who I saw play the part more often. "Tell Me It's Not True" means a lot more when I hear it because of the untimely loss of Miss Lawrence - especially as she played a wonderful Marilyn Monroe (in a not so wonderful musical).

Apropos of nothing - it also has a number of Sweeney Todd connections having been directed originally by Christopher Bond; having Andrew Schofield as the Narrator, who later played Toby in Bond's revival of Sweeney Todd and Andrew C. Wadsworth as Eddie, who had played Anthony in Prince's version at Drury Lane.

Updated On: 12/19/05 at 07:48 AM

[Katurian2]

Posted: 12/19/05 at 8:41am

There's a fellow lover right here! Great show!

[Matters]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 8:35pm

I just saw this done by a community theatre group and it was probably one of the best shows I've seen in a long timein so many respects. I loved the story and the music was really well used, before I went in sombody told me it was more of a musical play then a musical so keeping this in mind I really liked the repetition of the songs (like the shoes upon the table song). The ending was so powerful, and what I found the more ironic/saddening was the narrator's comment about the class system. I can see why people think some parts are laughable for the overly serious moments, I found this at times, but at the same time I sort of fond the narrator's parts to be really effective/disturbing. Just out of curosity, does anyone think that if Mickey had been switched as opposed to Eddie the same thing would have happened? Or for that matter if they were both kept together in either home (Lyons or Johnson)? Just curious to see what everyone else thinks.

[roseinthewinter]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 8:41pm

YES! I was lucky enough to see it in London about 3 years ago. I wish it was done more in the States!

[Matters]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 9:25pm

This thought just popped into my mind (a bit of a spoiler, but if you're reading this far into the topic I'll assume you've seen the show)- why wasn't Eddie invited to Linda and Mickey's wedding? They were all on speaking terms at that time, I don't see why Eddie wouldn't have even been informed of the wedding.

[jem2]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 9:43pm

I saw it in London a couple years ago. What a totally implausible and far out story but I was sucked in emotionally by it.
I laughed my head off and I cried like a baby...

I love Easy Terms, beautiful song and Tell Me It's Not True is gorgeous too. I have the soundtrack with Stephanie Lawrence and it's great.

Next time in London I am going back to see it. If it's still there and it looks like there is a good chance it will be!

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/24/06 at 10:40pm

Is the London theatre in bad condition?

Updated On: 1/24/06 at 10:40 PM

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:35am

I love Easy Terms, beautiful song and Tell Me It's Not True is gorgeous too. I have the soundtrack with Stephanie Lawrence and it's great.

You have the WHAT?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 12:45am

There happens to be an excellent production in Mississauga (just west of Toronto) right now and anyone in Toronto or the GTA who has never seen it would be well advised to get over to Meadowvale Theatre this weekend. Show finishes its run Sat Jan 28.

This is a community group, but honestly i you didn't know that in advance you would think it was a professional touring production. It is THAT well done.

The show is still slightly problematic (the first act overly long and suffers from uneven pacing, though the second act moves along at a better pace.) It is an interesting score in that most of the songs don't finish but instead segue back into dialogue. There are only one or two numbers that end with a button finish to cue applause.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 1:09am

Like this show? I love this show. Unfortunately I only had the opportunity to see it once when I was in London in July 2004 but I'd love to see it again. Its one of my favorite musicals of all time.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 5:23am

It is an interesting score in that most of the songs don't finish but instead segue back into dialogue. There are only one or two numbers that end with a button finish to cue applause
The production in London is directed so there is no pause for applause until the end of each act - I think that that's why people get so sucked in to the story. However, the ticket sales aren't stunning and it seems only to survive because a lot of schools study the play in English class. If you're even at a loose end in London of an evening, you can always get a good ticket to the show!

The Pheonix theatre has definatly seen better days, but as the show would have to close while renovation work was carried out, it keeps getting worse...

[jem2]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 7:10am

"I love Easy Terms, beautiful song and Tell Me It's Not True is gorgeous too. I have the soundtrack with Stephanie Lawrence and it's great.

You have the WHAT?"

My apologies...lazy choice of words there. I have the cast recording with Stephanie Lawrence. (hangs head in shame)

[lovinlife]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 3:36pm

I played the narrarator in a regional production. It was an extremely demanding show physically and emotionally.

[Attendthetale331]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 9:35pm

don't apologize for posting this, if this has been posted before people who have already read something like this then they don't have to post a message or read it. so post whatever the hell you want.

[Matters]

Posted: 1/25/06 at 11:23pm

"There happens to be an excellent production in Mississauga..."

I'll attest to the greatness of that production. It's the same one I mentioned a while back.