Perth Community Choir and Perth Studio Theatre have joined forces to bring you Blood Brothers — a musical with book, lyrics and music by Willy Russell. The 1991 revival in London’s West End ran for over 10,000 performances and has entertained audiences for more than 40 years. Russell originally planned for his 1981 play to tour schools, as it has many messages for people going through their teenage years and beyond. If Russell’s name rings a bell, it could be because two of his other productions have been staged in Perth — Educating Rita and Stepping Out — both directed by yours truly. It is interesting to note that all three plays take place in the world of working-class England, with Blood Brothers set in post-war Liverpool where Russell grew up.
Directed by the multi-talented Kristy Tait-Angel, Blood Brothers features a cast of 13 and is set on a multilevel stage with a full band bringing each musical number to life. Sarah-Jane Laberge, who plays the rebellious and troublesome older brother Sammy, says: “the ominous presence of a Narrator is a reminder that fate is always around the corner and sometimes bad things happen and there is nothing you can do to change it”. In this production there are three narrators, and their haunting presence will drift in and out of sight throughout the play.
Chris Angel and Joshua Gallant play best friends and blood brothers, and their moms are played by Lindsay Williams and Karen Smith. Angel and Gallant seamlessly portray young boys from “nearly 8 years old” into adulthood. Along with older brother Sammy and their young friend Linda (played by Lauren Ebidia), best friends Mickey and Eddie will transport you back to their childhood, playing in the rubble of 1950s Liverpool and delivering a totally believable and joyous performance packed with comedy and laughter. From childhood they take you to swaggering teenage years and into adulthood — and I can guarantee you that each of these talented actors is fully up to the challenge.
Greek tragedies from as early as the 6th century have explored universal themes carefully crafted to create powerful emotional experiences. Blood Brothers will be serving up the issues of class divide, nature versus nurture, and coming-of-age that are catnip for teenagers and adults alike. Kristy is leaning into the Greek tragedy style to bring audiences an experience that they will never forget. She feels that once you have seen this production, as she did so many years ago, it will stay with you forever. The tale of twins, separated at birth, building a friendship and becoming blood brothers, is a story for the ages that fascinates and entertains. The narrators, intruding like Fate, warn that a “price has to be paid” for what is to follow.
As the curtains rise the stage will slowly fill with music, actors, and the magic that will grab you from the get-go. The lyrics — with repeated refrains referring to Marilyn Monroe, shoes on the table, and how you know when the devil’s got your number — take on a character of their own. The finale has never failed to raise audiences to a standing ovation. The set, tech and costumes add further layers, with Reiner Silberhorn, Lou Nel, David Crane, and Marilyn Bird behind the scenes — all perfectly in sync with the director’s unique vision. This coproduction will transport you to a time and place never to be forgotten.
Blood Brothers plays for eight performances at Studio Theatre Perth, with 2pm matinées on March 21, 22, 28 and 29, and 7pm performances on March 19, 20, 26 and 27. Tickets are available online at ticketsplease.ca or at the door a half-hour before curtain. Tickets for this award-winning musical are $27, with $5 off on opening night March 19.