Blood Brothers Review

I’m digging through and trying to post some old reviews for you to read. Here is one from our production of Willy Russell’s ‘Blood Brothers’

Blood Brothers
Too Friendly Theatre Company
Director: Cliff Gillies

The sign of a well written and well acted play is when you become so absorbed with the characters and story line that you forget you are there primarily to review the performance. This was definitely the case with Blood Brothers. Willy Russell was originally asked to write the play specifically for performance by Merseyside Youth Peoples’ Theatre Company. The dynamics of the story line shift from humour through despair, anger, joy and tragedy and the competent cast was skilled in carrying out every subtle change of mood of the piece.

The play held the eyes and ears of every audience member. The source of the drama is social conflict, with class and moral issued being addressed. The five main characters allowed the story to unfold with forceful credibility.

Helen Haygarth as Mrs Johnston gave an outstanding performance. Her mannerisms, especially showing nervous tension and anguish, helped to define her characterization. Cliff Gillies as Mickey, her son, also gave us a believable character. Mickey’s gradual change throughout the play from a seven-year old to adulthood was most skilfully portrayed, Eddie, played by John Windsor, added just the right tone as Mickey’s twin brother. He is brought up in a more affluent environment, as his mother, unable to cope with another mouth to feed, gives him to the Lyons family. The scenes between Mickey and Eddie were full of rhythm, movement and action giving us more than the required energy to carry the play along.

Adding to this duo is Linda, played by Joanne Wasilew. Her actions and reactions to the eternal triangle, which developed between Mickey, Eddie and herself, were played with sensitivity.

Sue Thomas as Mrs Lyons was a force, albeit delivered gently, to be reckoned with. Her love for Eddie – her adopted son – was acted throughout with conviction. Added to this strong cast was Mark Haygarth as the Narrator. He set the mood and rhythm of the piece from the beginning.
The scenery and lighting were adequate, the programme was rather a mishmash, no cast list, no setting of time or place for example. As much as the Company is familiar with the plot it cannot be assumed that everyone in the audience knows the play. But these are minor points after seeing a well-crafted piece of theatre where all the elements came together to give the audience a night to remember.

Barbara Worrall, NODA.

 

Snow White Review

I’d thought I would share with you the local newspapers review of Snow White. To save space I have cut it down but you can link to the original here.

“The All Souls annual pantomime is like a big family reunion party… like a Ken Dodd show, don’t expect an early exit as the cast seemed to be having such a good time, they didn’t want to leave… Joanne Stafford shone as Snow White, her plaintive singing being well suited to numbers like Inside my heart and Someday my prince will come.She wins the heart of Prince Alexi, played by Jaen Pierre Meyer, though one feels she could have done better for herself with one of the more rugged villagers. This was Peter Roney’s seventh reprisal as the Dame, a part he has perfected over the years, although there was little suggestion of a woman inside his voluminous skirts. He’d make a much better stand-up comic than a drag artiste.Cliff Gillies obviously enjoyed every minute of his part as Muddles, getting the audience to clap and sing along, as if they needed any encouragement. His version of The Brook Brothers’ Ain’t Gonna Wash For A Week’ was one of the few songs that was instantly recognizable… busiest performer was Katie Watkinson as Ramsbottom, the Wicked Queen’s henchman, who darted maniacally about the stage plotting the victory of Snow White. She will surely have run the equivalent of the London Marathon by the final performance. Katie also led a sixties girl group interpretation of Connie Francis’s Robot Man, accompanied by The Wicked Queen (the suitably evil Stephanie Verite) and Prince Alexi… Sue Thomas could be dimly glimpsed through the Magic Mirror as the Spirit therein whilst June Weights was charming as Fairy Goodheart.Most popular of all were the dwarfs and the dancers, a veritable army of children, whose costumes, singing and dance routines were a delight… This was a traditional pantomime with, thankfully, little smut and few of the political references that small children rarely appreciate. Karen Edge, who directed and choreographed, must be congratulated for putting together a show well up to the standard of All Souls… Book your ticket now before they sell out.