David Cassidy on the Web
Blood Brothers
www.justreservations.com
January 26, 2007
Blood Brothers
5th Feb 2008 - 15th March 2008
Blood Brothers is a 1983 musical, with book, lyrics, and music by Willy Russell. It is one of the longest-running musicals of all time. The musical is a contemporary nature-vs-nurture tale revolving around twins separated at birth.
The original production by Willy Russell was written as a school play and presented in 1981. Russell then developed the work into a full blown musical, which opened in the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983, starring Barbara Dickson. It was only a modest success. The show transferred to London where it played for only six months or so before closing. Then Bill Kenwright took over the show and following a year long national tour it reopened in the Lyric Theatre in London in 1988 before transferring it to the Phoenix Theatre, where it has been running since.
The production has now passed its 20th year and has developed a cult following. The central role of Mrs. Johnstone has been played by, among others, Stephanie Lawrence, Kiki Dee, Lyn Paul, Helen Hobson, Siobhan McCarthy, and four of the Nolan sisters (Linda, Bernie, Denise and Maureen). Ex-Blue member Antony Costa is also currently part of the London cast as of 10 April 2006, starring alongside Maureen Nolan as Mrs. Johnstone. A second UK production is currently on tour, starring Linda Nolan as Mrs. Johnstone.
Petula Clark gave the sluggish Broadway production a much-needed boost when she joined the cast on August 16, 1993. She remained with the show until April 1994, then subsequently starred in the US touring company from September of that year until May 1995. She recorded the international cast album with her Broadway co-stars - real-life brothers David Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy - along with Willy Russell himself in the role of the Narrator. David's son Beau Cassidy played the exact same role of Mickey as his father in 2006 at Stagedoor Manor in Loch Sheldrake, New York. Clark's success as Mrs. Johnstone led to the role becoming a calling card for other pop singers, with Carole King and Helen Reddy following her in the role on Broadway.
