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Post by hannechalk on Jan 8, 2024 11:03:32 GMT
Thanks for this! Haven’t listened yet. What happened to Vivienne Carlyle? Felt like she was everywhere for Kenwright for a long while then seemingly disappeared (Joseph and Blood Brothers both for ages). Is she still in the business? I think, but could be wrong, she has been doing a lot of cruise ships. |
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Post by hannechalk on Jan 11, 2024 15:04:31 GMT
I accidentally replied to a very old comment, so deleted it.
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Post by hannechalk on Jan 13, 2024 14:19:13 GMT
So the full cast is:
Mrs. Johnstone - Niki Colwell-Evans
Narrator - Scott Anson
Mickey - Sean Jones
Eddie - Joe Sleight
Linda - Gemma Brodrick
Mrs Lyons - Sarah Jane Buckley
Sammy - Tim Lucas
Mr. Lyons - Tim Churchill
Brenda - Jess Smith
Neighbour - Josh Capper
Teacher/Policeman - Alex Harland
Donna Marie/Miss Jones - Chloe Pole
Postman/Bus Conductor - Graeme Kinniburgh
Perkins - Danny Knott
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Post by hannechalk on Jan 13, 2024 16:25:36 GMT
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Post by lightinthedarkness on Feb 10, 2024 17:17:20 GMT
Saw this for the first time at the Floral Pavilion a few days ago. We had a few alternates on, for Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Lyon’s and Brenda.
The entire cast were fantastic. Full standing ovation at the end.
Mickey and Eddies actors were both great, but at no point did they feel the same age.
Lots of crying around me. Though one very sad moment was undercut a bit after loads laughed after getting a fright because of the (very loud) gun shots.
This is definitely a show I want to see again!
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Post by theatrescribe on Feb 10, 2024 20:40:14 GMT
Can't believe Sean Jones is still going in the same part! I saw him doing that role about ten years ago, and he first played Mickey in 1999 - 25 years ago! Is that some kind of record?
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Post by marob on Feb 10, 2024 23:40:10 GMT
He’s been playing it since 1999? Is that West End or tour? I saw it on a school trip around then. Mad to think it could have been him.
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Post by theatrescribe on Feb 11, 2024 0:09:26 GMT
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Post by Seriously on Feb 11, 2024 1:19:40 GMT
Many others have played the part in that time too, but he's a regular returnee.
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 12, 2024 2:05:05 GMT
Saw this for the first time at the Floral Pavilion a few days ago. We had a few alternates on, for Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Lyon’s and Brenda. The entire cast were fantastic. Full standing ovation at the end. Mickey and Eddies actors were both great, but at no point did they feel the same age. Lots of crying around me. Though one very sad moment was undercut a bit after loads laughed after getting a fright because of the (very loud) gun shots. This is definitely a show I want to see again! If you saw it on the Thursday, Niki has Thursday matinées off. You will have seen Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Johnstone, Chloé Pole as Mrs Lyons and Jess Smith as Donna Marie/Miss Jones. |
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Post by Figaro on Feb 12, 2024 10:59:48 GMT
Saw this for the first time at the Floral Pavilion a few days ago. We had a few alternates on, for Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Lyon’s and Brenda. The entire cast were fantastic. Full standing ovation at the end. Mickey and Eddies actors were both great, but at no point did they feel the same age. Lots of crying around me. Though one very sad moment was undercut a bit after loads laughed after getting a fright because of the (very loud) gun shots. This is definitely a show I want to see again! If you saw it on the Thursday, Niki has Thursday matinées off. You will have seen Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Johnstone, Chloé Pole as Mrs Lyons and Jess Smith as Donna Marie/Miss Jones. Niki was performing at the matinee I saw last year. |
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Post by lightinthedarkness on Feb 12, 2024 11:43:19 GMT
Saw this for the first time at the Floral Pavilion a few days ago. We had a few alternates on, for Mrs Johnstone, Mrs Lyon’s and Brenda. The entire cast were fantastic. Full standing ovation at the end. Mickey and Eddies actors were both great, but at no point did they feel the same age. Lots of crying around me. Though one very sad moment was undercut a bit after loads laughed after getting a fright because of the (very loud) gun shots. This is definitely a show I want to see again! If you saw it on the Thursday, Niki has Thursday matinées off. You will have seen Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Johnstone, Chloé Pole as Mrs Lyons and Jess Smith as Donna Marie/Miss Jones. Yes that looks right! Sarah Jane Buckley was outstanding, glad I managed to see her as Mrs Johnstone, though I'm sure Niki is also brilliant. |
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Post by fluxcapacitor on Feb 12, 2024 14:14:17 GMT
Can't believe Sean Jones is still going in the same part! I saw him doing that role about ten years ago, and he first played Mickey in 1999 - 25 years ago! Is that some kind of record? I found it quite awkward when I saw him last year. There’s no denying he’s good in the role, but the casting around him makes him stand out, especially when he’s playing opposite a young Linda. I’ve mentioned it before but if he wants to stay with the production I do wonder why they’ve never tried him in the Narrator role instead, or adapted their casting around him so Eddie and Linda “match”. I know they’re all playing different ages, but it is jarring and there’s no way he’d be cast in the role from scratch today - you only need to look at Eddie/Linda to gather the spec of the roles and the people they’re seeing for them, and they’re only getting younger and younger with each cast change. |
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 12, 2024 15:11:39 GMT
If you saw it on the Thursday, Niki has Thursday matinées off. You will have seen Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Johnstone, Chloé Pole as Mrs Lyons and Jess Smith as Donna Marie/Miss Jones. Niki was performing at the matinee I saw last year. Last year she had every third Thursday matinée off. For this tour she negotiated every Thursday matinée.off. |
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 12, 2024 15:18:08 GMT
Can't believe Sean Jones is still going in the same part! I saw him doing that role about ten years ago, and he first played Mickey in 1999 - 25 years ago! Is that some kind of record? I found it quite awkward when I saw him last year. There’s no denying he’s good in the role, but the casting around him makes him stand out, especially when he’s playing opposite a young Linda. I’ve mentioned it before but if he wants to stay with the production I do wonder why they’ve never tried him in the Narrator role instead, or adapted their casting around him so Eddie and Linda “match”. I know they’re all playing different ages, but it is jarring and there’s no way he’d be cast in the role from scratch today - you only need to look at Eddie/Linda to gather the spec of the roles and the people they’re seeing for them, and they’re only getting younger and younger with each cast change. Both Linda (Gemma Brodrick) and Eddie (Joe Sleight) are several years older than their predecessors, so they do not get younger with every cast change. |
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Post by Seriously on Feb 12, 2024 15:49:49 GMT
Can't believe Sean Jones is still going in the same part! I saw him doing that role about ten years ago, and he first played Mickey in 1999 - 25 years ago! Is that some kind of record? ...I’ve mentioned it before but if he wants to stay with the production I do wonder why they’ve never tried him in the Narrator role instead... Wrong height, wrong vocal range. |
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 12, 2024 17:32:45 GMT
...I’ve mentioned it before but if he wants to stay with the production I do wonder why they’ve never tried him in the Narrator role instead... Wrong height, wrong vocal range. Exactly. Sean has a lovely singing voice, but not quite what one expects from the Narrator. Acting-wise he could definitely pull it off, but he hasn't quite got a towering presence you'd expect from the Narrator. |
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Post by fluxcapacitor on Feb 12, 2024 18:33:36 GMT
I found it quite awkward when I saw him last year. There’s no denying he’s good in the role, but the casting around him makes him stand out, especially when he’s playing opposite a young Linda. I’ve mentioned it before but if he wants to stay with the production I do wonder why they’ve never tried him in the Narrator role instead, or adapted their casting around him so Eddie and Linda “match”. I know they’re all playing different ages, but it is jarring and there’s no way he’d be cast in the role from scratch today - you only need to look at Eddie/Linda to gather the spec of the roles and the people they’re seeing for them, and they’re only getting younger and younger with each cast change. Both Linda (Gemma Brodrick) and Eddie (Joe Sleight) are several years older than their predecessors, so they do not get younger with every cast change. I wonder if that’s on purpose this time because Sean is returning again. As I mentioned in my post, it would work fine if they cast Linda and Eddie closer to his age and I’d actually welcome that. It’s just the age difference that can be jarring if his opposites read much younger. |
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Post by benj on Feb 12, 2024 20:50:52 GMT
I’d considered booking Blood Brothers again, but the casting puts me off. I think I’d find one of the twins being far older than the other extremely off putting. You can only suspend your disbelief so much!
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 12, 2024 21:01:21 GMT
I’d considered booking Blood Brothers again, but the casting puts me off. I think I’d find one of the twins being far older than the other extremely off putting. You can only suspend your disbelief so much! A lot of people can suspend it, as they have quite a few sold out houses. But agreed, it's not for everyone. |
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Post by hannechalk on Feb 12, 2024 21:02:49 GMT
Both Linda (Gemma Brodrick) and Eddie (Joe Sleight) are several years older than their predecessors, so they do not get younger with every cast change. I wonder if that’s on purpose this time because Sean is returning again. As I mentioned in my post, it would work fine if they cast Linda and Eddie closer to his age and I’d actually welcome that. It’s just the age difference that can be jarring if his opposites read much younger. Nope, they just booked the two people who came best out of auditions. If they wanted to do age-appropriate casting over talent, other options would have been available. Gemma Brodrick is simply the best Linda I have ever seen! And I've seen a few. |
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Post by Dr Tom on Apr 13, 2024 21:50:46 GMT
I saw this in Dartford recently with Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Johnstone. She was excellent. I was in the front row and the lovely lady next to me was clearly very happy she was getting a SJB show.
I hadn't realised, but the Orchard Theatre in Dartford is still closed and they have a temporary theatre a few minutes walk down the road. It may well be the old Troubadour White City theatre. If not, it is very similar in layout. A long flat floor of seats, then a tiered section at the back. I'm very glad I was sat at the front as this isn't a theatre designed for sight lines.
Not too much else to say about the show as this hasn't changed all that much in recent years. I hadn't realised that Danny Knott had joined, so spotting him was a bonus. There has to be some suspension of disbelief with the ages of some of the cast, but no one looked bored. I hadn't expected so many guns to be fired at the end (I'm sure there was only one policeman last time I saw this).
Still, this is doing good business. I'm in Leicester for work in a couple of weeks and I looked to see what shows I could see. Blood Brothers is on at the Curve, but already sold out. It's a pity that it can't play in central London as it would do far better as a filler show than many of the other options.
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Post by theatreliker on May 3, 2024 21:17:45 GMT
Saw this in Leicester last week. I've lost count at the number of times I've seen Blood Brothers (over 30 I'm sure).
Still as strong as ever... although I don't like that pause between Madman and the Council Chambers scene. It's always seemed awkward to me and they didn't have it in London.
I also noticed they've cut the line 'Ain't life a bitch' from Act Two.
Great cast overall. Really liked Sarah Jane Buckley as Mrs Lyons. It's so easy to over do that role. Also nice to see a new Sammy.
It's the first time I've seen this narrator but read in the programme that he played the role over 20 years ago. I have to say I wasn't a fan. Quite a menacing portrayal and he didn't half pull some facial expressions.
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Post by hannechalk on May 4, 2024 3:34:28 GMT
Last show of this leg tomorrow in Birmingham.
Four definite, possibly five, cast members leaving, won't be on the Autumn Tour.
Will definitely miss Niki Colwell Evans as Mrs Johnstone.
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Post by Alejo on May 4, 2024 12:41:55 GMT
Last show of this leg tomorrow in Birmingham. Four definite, possibly five, cast members leaving, won't be on the Autumn Tour. Will definitely miss Niki Colwell Evans as Mrs Johnstone. Would love to see Linzi Hateley return to this. 🤞 |
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