Blood Brothers

Characters

Mickey loses his job and becomes depressed; Edward goes to university and becomes Councillor Lyons; Mrs Lyons is a lonely, wealthy woman who becomes paranoid that Edward is being drawn to his birth family; Sammy is Mickey's older brother and a bad influence.

Context

Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister in 1979; Blood Brothers began in 1981 as a play for secondary school children; the first professional production of the musical opened at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983; and Bill Kenwright's revival opened at the Albery theatre in London in 1988.

Key quotations

Edward to Mrs Johnstone: "But I think you're smashing". It shows the warmth between them.

Language and form

Working-class and middle-class characters speak differently, for example Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons at their first meeting, and the contrast between the twins' speech emphasises how separate their lives are.

Plot and structure

Mrs Lyons persuades Mrs Johnstone to give her one of the twins, and makes her swear on the Bible never to tell anyone.

Themes

The police officer treats Edward more leniently than Mickey, which draws attention to the inequality of the society the families live in.

Characters

Edward goes to Oxford University and as an adult is Councillor Lyons; he helps Linda find Mickey a job and a home, but also starts an affair with her.

Context

Russell reworked the story into a full musical, writing all the lyrics and music himself, and the first professional production opened at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983.

Key quotations

Linda to Mickey, who is taking anti-depressants: "I can't even see you". She is frustrated that the pills stop him being himself.

Language and form

The Narrator is on stage throughout the play, watching and commenting; he speaks to the audience (and sometimes to the characters) but the characters do not respond to him.