A standing ovation for the production was never in doubt.
There are musicals, and then there is Blood Brothers.
Willy Russell’s devastating masterpiece has been bringing audiences to their feet for decades, and on Tuesday evening, the Lichfield Garrick proved once again why this city punches well above its weight as a destination for first-class touring theatre.
The story needs little introduction. Twins separated at birth grow up on opposite sides of the social divide, only to be drawn together by fate, with consequences that are as heartbreaking as they are inevitable. But knowing the ending does nothing to blunt the impact. If anything, it makes every scene more unbearable and more beautiful.
Vivienne Carlyle was extraordinary as Mrs Johnstone, bringing a rawness and a warmth to the role that anchored the entire production. Sean Jones brought a grounded, earthy energy to Mickey that felt utterly real from first scene to last, and the two of them together were simply magnetic.
One of the evening’s most quietly affecting moments came early, as the boys’ childhood years played out on stage. The sheer joy and innocence of nearly-eight-year-old Mickey had the audience instinctively casting their minds back to their own childhoods – to that particular age when the world still felt wide open and full of possibility. It was beautifully done, and made what followed all the more crushing.
The score is glorious from start to finish. Whether a number was belted out with full voice, or delivered in the softest, most tender of tones, every single song was sheer perfection. Each felt entirely right for its moment in the story, which is the mark of truly great musical writing.
As for the Garrick itself, the atmosphere was sublime. This is a venue that knows how to hold an audience, and on Tuesday night, the audience held the show right back. When the shots rang out at the climax, more than a few people in the stalls visibly jumped, which tells you everything about how completely this production had drawn every single person in that room into its world.
The standing ovation at the end was not just deserved, it was inevitable.
Blood Brothers runs at the Lichfield Garrick until Saturday 23 May. If you have not seen it, please go. Call the box office on 01543 412121 or visit lichfieldgarrick.com.
Some shows stay with you long after the final curtain. This is absolutely one of them.
