The story of twin brothers, separated at birth and brought up in wildly contrasting homes. This non-musical play version tells the story of what happens when the brothers re-unite in a friendship that ultimately leads to tragedy. The fast-paced and well-loved production is certain to be an emotional crowd pleaser. (includes gun shots and strong language)
This Willy Russell classic, about twins split at birth, is more famous as a musical, but its original play format hits equally hard. The twins’ poverty-stricken mother is persuaded to give baby Edward to her employer Mrs Lyons – rich but childless. Both women discourage the boys from meeting, but it is inevitable.
The action of this heart-rending piece set in Liverpool is linked by a rhyming narrator played by Tim Hands, whose chilling delivery highlighted the play’s underlying menace. Lisa McLean exuded warmth, love and care as the twins’ mother. And Emma Horspool was equally convincing as her cold and confused counterpart. The scene in which the latter is asked to choose which boy to take was excruciatingly emotive.
Twins Mickey and Eddie were respectively played by Alastair Beeson and Norman Nickason, whose carefully observed childish mannerisms ensured authenticity. Their transformation into adulthood was seamless as their contrasting characters matured. Micky and his best friend and wife-to-be Linda, portrayed beautifully by Kate Lansdale, were wonderfully precocious yet naïve, highlighting Eddie’s rich-boy unworldliness as child and adult.
There lives went in opposite directions, but were dangerously interwoven, leading to the final shocking scene where Mrs Johnston blurts out the boys’ true relationship and gun-toting Mrs Lyons shoots them both.
Congratulations to director Howard James and the cast, completed by Ruth Fowler as the policewoman.
(From Gordon Birch’s review in the Harborough Mail)
Photography by Peter Crowe
Presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French inc. www.concordtheatriccals.com