Blood Brothers

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:00pm

Has anyone seen BLOOD BROTHERS? I've stumbled upon some songs, and they're lovely. The storyline sounds rather melodramatic, but someone told me the tone of the piece resembles that of a Greek tragedy and has the same kind of mythical weight.

Can anyone comment on the show, and which is the best cast recording?

Updated On: 3/7/05 at 11:00 PM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:03pm

I have the 1988 London Revival Cast and I love it a lot. It has great songs, my favorite being "Marilyn Monroe" (all 20 times of it....exagerating). I have never seen it but that cast recording is AMAZING. You should really check it out.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:10pm

Is it the one with this cover?



Is the show sung-through? I've heard it is, but the recording only has 15 tracks.

[maybethistime]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:12pm

Saw it in London last year and it is AMAZING. One of the most powerful nights I have ever whitnessed in a theatre. I too have the 1988 recording and it is marvelous. The "International" Recording has more songs because they made all of the tiny narrator's speeches (similar to those of the narrator in "Into the Woods") each a separate track, thusly making it more expensive, but the 88 recording just puts those at the begining of the track it comes before, so you aren't losing any material. You should really check it out... its a fantastick show. Willy Russell should really get more credit- he's a genious.

EDIT: Yes, thats the cover. And yes, the show is mostly sung through, but you can purchase a copy of the script. It has some interesting interveiews/study guide material and eariler versions of scenes, etc. that are really interesting. Ill try to find a link... Updated On: 3/7/05 at 11:12 PM

[maybethistime]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:15pm

Le script: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0413767701/ref=pd_sr_ec_cs_b-koth-pa1/102-4440423-0860942?v=glance&s=books&st=*
(Definetly worth a buy if you like the music...)

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:18pm

Thanks a lot, maybethistime!

So it's still playing in London? How long has it been running? I'm hoping to cross the pond this fall, so maybe I'll catch it. What is it like onstage? Again, the story seems a bit melodramatic and silly (what with the whole prophecy thing), but from all accounts I've heard it's an emotionally exhausting experience -- and the music is beautiful and melancholic.

[AM]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:20pm

There is dialogue in the show. I played keyboards for this show years ago, and I know I had some downtime. There's music under a lot of the dialogue though (usually just some sustained synth pads...nothing too exciting musically).

[maybethistime]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:27pm

Im not sure exactly how long its been running, but I think its been jumping around from Liverpool to West End since the late 70's early 80's. Onstage, it is amazing. The cast is completly drained emotionally by the end, and it took nearly 20 bows for them to finally losen up. It is impossible to describe how compelling actually seeing the show is. The simplistic set & lighting is really effective as is the music and the way everything is so well though out that clever little thinks make it amazing. Even the melodramatic plot, which seems silly out of context, is perfect for the music (and vice versa). On the downside, as always, its a matter of opinion. As you've probably heard and noticed from the CD, it isn't exactly you typical piece of golden-age broadway musical, but I saw it w/ my grandparents and we all LOVED it and were emotionally moved by the end. Then I recommended it to one of my friends and she absolutley though it was the worst peice of "wannabe-theatre" she'd ever seen! Not to discourage you from seeing it, but it isn't one of those shows that EVERYONE raves about. I'd be curious to hear what you think if you end up seeing it!

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:28pm

"So it's still playing in London? How long has it been running?"
------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, it's still playing in London - 17 years and going strong!

Here's some info:

"Interestingly of all the long-running musicals currently in London, Blood Brothers is unique in that the current production, which originally opened at the Albery Theatre in 1988, is actually its second incarnation - the original production failed to score a West End success at the Lyric Theatre in 1983 (where it run for six months). The producer Bill Kenwright picked up the rights to the musical in 1987, and a re-vamped Blood Brothers returned to the West End the following year."

Totally amazing theatrical experience - I see it every time I'm in London, and it never disappoints.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:34pm

Meh...I saw it and didn't care for it. However, I also saw an extremely bad production, so I'm sure that's affected my judgment. And I wasn't the only one who hated it: It was a mainstage show at the National Thespian Conference three years ago, and it was so awful that when it came time for act two to start, the audience actually protested. You could actually hear people shouting "No!!" Not that I condone that, but...it was that bad.

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:35pm

Blue Wizard, Blood Brothers is playing at the Heritage Theatre in Brampton in May I believe, I have a few friends in it, it's a professional show and should be very well done!
Go see it if you decide you like the show, or if you're just curious!

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:36pm

I was in a production of it a few years ago, and I think it's one of the greatest, most moving shows. I adore it, and I'm hoping for a Broadway revival. And yes, the CD you posted is the best one.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:37pm

Wow, Munk and I actually agree on something. It is a giant leap my friend, but still a long way to go.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:39pm

A long way to go until what? huh?

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:39pm

haha, I was just joking. I was saying it is still a long way until we agree on everything. Still love ya, though.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:41pm

Aw thanks....even though you are a straight boy and are married to Zeta.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:44pm

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:51pm

Blue Wizard, Blood Brothers is playing at the Heritage Theatre in Brampton in May I believe,

LOL, that's great! Whereabouts is the Heritage Theatre (what intersection)?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:51pm

double post

Updated On: 3/7/05 at 11:51 PM

[pab]

Posted: 3/7/05 at 11:54pm

I saw a production of "Blood Brothers" in London quite a number of years ago (not too long after it had opened) and it left a LOT to be desired. If I had to hear that "Marilyn Monroe" song one more time my head would have exploded.

It was all everyone was talking about in London at the time and I must say I was rather disappointed. It was probably one of the most melodramatic pieces of theatre I had seen in a long time. "Educating Rita" and "Shirley Valentine" both have much better scripts. The writing in this, IMO, was Willy Russell's full out attempt at emotional masturbation.

[judy_in_disguise]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 2:27am

The Heritage is at Main St. in Brampton (Hwy 10 turns into Main Street) and Queen.
If you're driving, take hwy 410 off of the 401, then get off at the Queen Street exit. Turn left (south) and head down until you hit Main street, turn right and you're there.

It's not a huge theatre, it's very very old too. I've done a few shows there and the stage is quite small. But they do at least one small pro show a year and they're always fantastic.

It runs from April 14-24. The cast is incredible. The director is a very dear friend of mine. Go see it.
Heritage Theatre 2005 Season

[holden]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 2:49am

I saw BLOOD BROTHERS in London last summer. I loved it. Yes, it's melodramatic, but it was done with a tremendous amount of commitment -- and some of the best acting I have seen in a musical.

I love the way the music fits so well with the drama. It's very "angsty" at times, and exuberant at other times, but the music always contributes to the storytelling.

I hope to see an equally good production of the show (perhaps the same one) again sometime soon.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 4:48am

I love it, though it is very British, in both humour and the central theme (the class system) which is perhaps why it didn't succeed on Broadway. The numbers are not traditinoal show songs in that they are extremely simple and often reprised, but they are there to back up what is essentially a play with music(originally there was only one song in the entire play).

I would recommend the 1995 recording (the latest) starring Stephanie Lawrence - it has the cover with the clasped hands logo and is the closest representation of the show currently playing at the Pheonix Theatre.

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 8:54am

Eastwickian--Are you talking about this one? If so, you have to go to www.amazon.com/uk to order it.

[LouieLovesTheater]

Posted: 3/8/05 at 9:00am

Eastwickian...I totally agree with your assessment as to why it didn't fare well on Broadway.

I saw the show when I was in London for school. We were required to see it because it represented one of the only musicals that portray an honest sense of the working-class British lifestyle. We were told it does so well because the working-class relates to the story and theme. People who never see theater come back and see this show time and time again.

I too felt the show was incredibly strong and did notice that the cast was visibly exhasuted at the end. Normally people come out all smiley and happy at the end for their bows. In this show, the woman playing the mother looked distraught until a few minutes had gone by.

An excellent show, in my opinion. Check it out.