545 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Jun 26, 2020 20:24:07 GMT
I would agree with you about Nicki I saw her twice in the role and she was fab ...... also one of the best was Berni Nolan my favourite of all the Nolan’s she did the first U.K. tour in the 90s I think 🤔 boy was it really that long ago ... But if you had of seen Stephanie on top form early 90s in the west end 🎭 omg amazing Totally agree with these comments over last few days great to see ..... I’ve been banging on and getting some not so nice replies ... over the years at the even mention of maybe a new production of BB .... it’s crying out for it so many other shows do it ... I think it’s time And I love the show seen it 56 times over the past 20 + years Lovely to see so many people who too like me despite all the other performances of Mrs j fab or not so as they have been my ultimate has been Stephanie Lawrence when she was on form she knocked it out of the park xx 😚 I’ve seen BB three times over the years. I saw Helen Reddy first, then Stephanie Lawrence. Reddy’s performance didn’t do much for me, I’m afraid. Stephanie Lawrence was good, but I didn’t find it to be the amazing performance that so many people talk about - either vocally or emotionally. The best Mrs. J I saw was - by some margin - Niki Evans. Yes, I know she’s an X Factor graduate, but I’m not a fan of X Factor at all, so I was not influenced by the fact that ‘she had been on the telly.’ Her vocals were rich and powerful and her acting was superb. She was the only actress (vocally and emotionally) who was the complete package for me. |
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Post by hannechalk on Jun 27, 2020 12:28:17 GMT
I saw Niki Evans once, and yes, she was good.
What was not so good is that she would make unkind comments about the audience, quite regularly, on social media. I thought that was quite unprofessional.
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526 posts
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Post by danielwhit on Jun 27, 2020 16:30:05 GMT
Willy never wanted it in the West End in the first place, so he's probably not likely to allow a new production. I remember the story that Kenwright toured Blood Brothers three times before Willy Russell agreed to let it transfer to the West End. From my recollection at the closing night at the Phoenix, both of those points are true but not the main thrust of what happened. Blood Brothers originally ran at the Lyric Theatre for a few months in 1983 however wasn't considered a success. It went out on tour in 1984 and did relatively well, then went out again twice more, improving in audiences over the years. Somewhere during this it was revamped with a new (refreshed?) production. During this, Kenwright asked Russell several times to allow it to go into London, Willy Russell said no - I believe Kenwright said this was due to not wanting a second West End failure. Russell changed his mind when he "snuck in" to a performance on the third tour and saw a full crowd and a great reception. He then called Kenwright and gave the show his blessing to transfer into London. That was in 1988. |
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Post by princeton on Jun 27, 2020 17:32:43 GMT
The original and (as some have mentioned above) superior production originated at the Liverpool Playhouse in January 1983 before moving to the Lyric Theatre in April that year where it ran for about just over six months (Barbara Dickson was only contracted for six months as she had concert commitments - so didn't do the last couple of weeks of the run). The following year a UK tour of that production went out for about nine months (with a cast including Peter Capaldi as Eddie). There were several regional productions over the next couple of years, including at the Watermill Newbury, the Belgrade Coventry, and the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch - in 1987. It was the latter which Bill Kenwright decided he wanted to tour, and did so for about a year before bringing it into the Albery Theatre and then on to the Phoenix.
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Post by danb on Jun 27, 2020 18:15:14 GMT
Yes, I saw the Peter Capaldi version with I think Con O Neil as Mickey and Rebecca Storm as Mrs J. Sublime.
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584 posts
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Post by princeton on Jun 28, 2020 12:07:30 GMT
The tour was Mark McGann as Mickey and Joe McGann as Sammy with, as you say, Rebecca Storm (who was only in her early 20s at the time and about the same age as the actors playing her sons) played Mrs Johnstone. Interestingly, Stephen McGann was a replacement Mickey at the Albery theatre in the production where Con O'Neill had originated the role.
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2,409 posts
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Post by theatreian on Jun 28, 2020 13:12:59 GMT
The tour was Mark McGann as Mickey and Joe McGann as Sammy with, as you say, Rebecca Storm (who was only in her early 20s at the time and about the same age as the actors playing her sons) played Mrs Johnstone. I still have my programme from August 1984 with the above cast at Liverpool Empire. John Conteh the boxer was the narrator. A young Ian Pulston-Davies was also in the cast. |
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Post by danb on Jun 29, 2020 4:07:09 GMT
Oh Yes, there were McGanns in it because at least one of them came to a Summer school we were doing after we’d been to see it. Did Con o Neill ever tour in it or am I imagining it? Maybe the later Kiki Dee tour?
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2,016 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Jun 29, 2020 8:29:47 GMT
Yes, I saw the Peter Capaldi version with I think Con O Neil as Mickey and Rebecca Storm as Mrs J. Sublime. Peter Capaldi? Wow! |
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545 posts
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Post by drowseychap on Jul 5, 2020 1:32:33 GMT
Been watching really old you tube clips such a shame there isn’t many clips of Stephanie Lawrence as Mrs j but love the video montage at the final performance of the west end run when she is the last mrs j 😢
And I’m getting old but am I correct in thinking in the original run or was Mrs Lyons who shoots Micky who then accidentally shoots eddy ?
And also has TMINT got slightly shorter I’m sure Steph used to has a key change at the end before the last few lines ?? 🤪 or am I making it all up x
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375 posts
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Post by Theatre Fan on Jul 31, 2020 20:12:23 GMT
How incredible would this of been 😱 R.I.P. Alan Parker x x x
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2,016 posts
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Post by distantcousin on Aug 4, 2020 11:02:32 GMT
Such a great pity - I wonder why it ran aground?....
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Post by hannechalk on Aug 18, 2020 19:25:42 GMT
Currently cancelled/rescheduled:
Swindon
Oxford
Bradford
Exeter
Leicester
Tickets still being sold for:
Chester
Plymouth
Edinburgh
Glasgow
All ATG-venues are currently closed till 18th October 2020, which means Blood Brothers would be the opening show for Edinburgh.
Just keep an eye on the individual theatres' social media for updates.
One fan has mentioned that the whole autumn-tour was officially cancelled by Kenwright, but I can't find any announcements.
None of the actors have mentioned being in rehearsals anytime soon.
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Post by Seriously on Aug 19, 2020 19:49:49 GMT
At the Bradford Alhambra from 23rd to 27th February 2021.
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45 posts
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Post by biffo on Sept 15, 2020 10:27:46 GMT
Plymouth Theatre Royal - 16th to 20th February 2021
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Post by Seriously on Sept 15, 2020 22:49:57 GMT
Edinburgh Playhouse - 2nd to 6th February 2021
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 16, 2020 19:31:39 GMT
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Post by hannechalk on Sept 23, 2020 18:20:09 GMT
Not surprisingly, the tour as initially advertised is now fully cancelled.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2021 2:37:27 GMT
Lyn Paul is the Cher of musicals. Always on her final tour...
Is she really that much of a draw? She doesn't exactly look like she's having kids every nine months.
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Post by greeny11 on Jul 30, 2021 8:40:56 GMT
She looked way too old for the part when I last saw her a few years ago. This is really uninspired casting - the whole show could do with a refresh, with new cast, rather than the same returning actors.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2021 9:39:05 GMT
Its definitely a show that people stay in for far too long. Hopefully Linzi Hateley will go back into the tour at somepoint.
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2,409 posts
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Post by theatreian on Jul 30, 2021 10:43:58 GMT
Yes there is certainly the suspension of reality in this casting as at 72 Lyn must be the oldest to give birth on record. Having said that she gives a fantastic performance and is one of my favourite Mrs Johnstones.
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Post by FrontrowverPaul on Jul 30, 2021 12:04:39 GMT
For me Lyn Paul in Blood Brothers is the equivalent to Linzi Hateley in Joseph. She totally owns the part of Mrs. Johnstone whether she's 72 or decades younger. Age is just a number.
Audiences love her and the show has an incredibly loyal following who see every tour, me included. If Lyn Paul can still play such a demanding role into her 70s then long may she continue.
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Post by danielwhit on Jul 30, 2021 12:39:08 GMT
Might be partially influenced that rehearsals start on 9th ahead of a first performance on 13th. Hopefully there'll be a refresh soon, this casting news has made me doubt whether I'll book to visit this tour in all honesty.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2021 14:33:55 GMT
For me Lyn Paul in Blood Brothers is the equivalent to Linzi Hateley in Joseph. She totally owns the part of Mrs. Johnstone whether she's 72 or decades younger. Age is just a number. Audiences love her and the show has an incredibly loyal following who see every tour, me included. If Lyn Paul can still play such a demanding role into her 70s then long may she continue. She must be doing something right. Was she on the tour when it was cancelled last year?
If I may ask, were you a Lyn Paul fan before she went into the show?
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