Altarena Playhouse's
'Blood Brothers' is bold and powerful
Not many regional stages produce this 1983 musical - It ran for over 20 years on the West End in London. It’s a fun first act, but the second act is as dark as they come. It was nice to find this musical at one of the better East Bay black box stages headed by Clay David, the Altarena Playhouse. Where you can get an in your face performance with any play or musical staged at this High Street venue. Its a living room performance from the first song to the curtain call.
BLOOD BROTHERS is based on the 1844 book “The Corsican Brothers” by Alex Dumas. Its the classic tale of two twin brothers who are separated at birth for financial reasons. The musical version by Willy Russell brings the story to the 1960’s as the boys grow up to 1980's adulthood. It moved to Broadway in 1993 and won a few TONYS.
Russell is not known for his musical ability - his film and plays include Educating Rita and Shirley Valentine. His songs in this work are limited and less complex than you find in most modern productions. But set in blue collar context his music is a good fit for this story. 
Altarena production was directed by Stewart Lyle, who makes perfect use of his small black box space. Set in the round, the set circles the audience. He opens the show in complete darkness as the cast humm’s the moody opening - as the lights slowly come up we see the last scene from the story. Lyle cast a talented group of actors many of whom grow in age the 2.5 hours of the musical. Both Nathan Brown and Michael Scott Wells who play the two brothers are excellent at playing the young boys, then end the play as grown men. Wells is brilliant as the young Mickey Johnstone, taking up the whole Alameda stage with his boyhood romp. Yet Russell didn’t create much music for the two boys to sing.
The mother, Mrs Johnstone, so well played by Donna Turner opens the story with “Marilyn Monroe”. Turner shows the struggle of a single mom raising a large family. The second mom Mrs Lyons is played by Amber Sommerfield, and both female leads sing well in the ballad “My Child” - The narrator Matt Davis also drops in as many other rolls from the milk man, Doctor, and of course the devil. He has a great voice and kept his dialect perfect, and is seen in the second act playing a moody saxaphone. The love interest between the two boys is Linda played by the talented Kattie Robbins. 
The supporting cast, Tom Curtin, Sean Fenton and Lucy Little are well cast and perform a slew of roles. Fenton especially shines as Mickey older brother, he has an excellent singing voice (a TBA award winner). I was most impressed by Michael Scott Wells as the younger and older Mickey, he is amazing to watch in this role transforming from young to old. Nate Browns timing in the role of the privileged brother is also excellent.The set design also by Lyle, surrounds the theatre with walk ways and doors - so every seat is great. The dance and stage fights were Choreographed by Rick Wallace. Most of the songs that included dance were with the kids in the first act, and very clever. The mood of the work was perfect with Wendy Kaufmans costume, purposely dressing her adult actors in oversized clothing to play seven year olds. Eddies costume for his teen years was right on in his prep school look. The 5 piece orchestra headed by Music Director Tania Johnson does a nice job perked in their hidden quarters above the set.
BLOOD BROTHERS - opens with a wonderful first act, but in keeping with some darker fairytale endings, the story ends with a powerful close. I recommend this classic musical, its rare to find on Bay Area stages because of the dark ending. Its nice to see The Altarena take the risk. Congrats to the company and production team.
"Blood Brothers" by Willy Russell continues through April 19. Tickets 23.00 - 26.00 8pm Thursday, Friday, Sat. 2pm Sundays Call 510-523-1553 or go to www.altarena.org.
Some photo's by Melissa Nigro
Some photo's by Melissa Nigro
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