Saw Blood Brothers way back in 1988, knowing nothing about it at all before seeing it, and it blew me away. Saw it again last year on tour and it still blew me away. One of the strongest and most powerful Books of any musical.
It's had a far greater run than anyone could have imagined when it opened so can't really complain about it finally closing - but it's a shame it couldn't have hung on to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Also, the closing announcement seems to have come out of the blue! Is it a cue for people to start singing, "Tell me it's not true...."? lol
Not shocked at all, actually. It's had a very healthy and successful run, and everyone who would have wanted to see it, would have seen it by now. It's also a very "local" production ie has no draw to big touristy crowds and non-English speakers.
Not really accurate about not attracting tourists - I had a flat in Phoenix House above the theatre and often was heading home when the theatre was going in or coming out and there were lots of bus parties of non Brits.
On shocks value between 1 and 10, this would be easily a 11, shocked doesn't seem to describe how I am feeling. One of the best musicals ever written, I MUST see this now before it closes.
I think it was Jonwo who said on here when 'Chicago' said on here on the Chicago closing thread, that Chicago was the first big show 'long runner to close since Buddy, that took me a while to peculate that gen of info, but correct, now another long runner closing within a month of the Chicago announcement.
Hope these announcements aren't like buses.
Holy Shit: Both Blood Brothers and Chicago closing, Charing Cross Road won't look the same.
If anyone wants to see it one last time it is on lastminute.com for £10 for best available (but you don't find out what that is until you pick up the tickets!) plus fees (1 ticket works out £14.25). I have booked for the supposed last night, even if it does open up elsewhere it will be nice to see it again.
The Kenwright office have supposedly said that there will be no transfer. It's weird that exactly ten years ago, three long runners (Cats, Starlight and Buddy) all closed and now we have two long runners closing this year. What's next: The Lion King? Les Misérables? The Phantom of the Opera? They say these things move in threes!
I think Phantom, Les Mis and The Lion King are safe for now, Mamma Mia! despite moving to the Novello in September will be around for a few more years. The long runners I'm unsure are Billy Elliot and We Will Rock You especially Billy which has been discounting quite a bit this year and it's not a cheap show to run.
Am I right in saying this current production in London is a revival? Apparently it opened officially then closed briefly and then opened again in a new production which is also the one that tours regularly.
Yes, the original production (starring Barbara Dickson) was something of a flop. Later they launched a tour production (starring Kiki Dee), which went into the West End at the end of the tour ostensibly for a limited run and kept running until now! (Though it started at the Albery - whixh is now the Noel Coward - and transferred a few years later to the Phoenix.)
It's will leave The Pheonix on this date for sure, but last I heard a transfer was on the table, perhaps they have decided just not to bother...
Perhaps Memphis will come in earlier now at this theatre...
Shrek will announce closure in the next month if rumours are true and I the only other surpise-ish show to say it will close would be Billy Elliot, sales have dived. Rock of Ages could be facing chop soon
Wow was not expecting this. I got to see the show for the first time last Summer and was shocked at how moved I was. Though I knew how the show ended, it really knocked be back.
Not a huge fan of the show, i agree the book is strong but the music is dire and repetitive. They have had a great run though so im sure they are all very happy
I think the production office has run out of steam for Billy Elliot. The marketing has not been very effective lately.
I do think, if possible, everyone should wait until after the Olympics before making decisions. This is such an untypical and quite demoralizing time for theatres. Hopefully normal service will be restored in a couple of weeks.
The show has had an excellent run! I saw it on tour about six years ago and while I found it great as a play (and extremely funny in places) I did not see why it was a musical. The songs are extremely bland (including "Tell Me Its Not True") and they are not particularly integral to the fabric of the show as a whole. Indeed, if they were all taken out they would not be missed, as everything is inherent in the piece as just a straight play. Rather than a musical, it is more of a play with music. Also, I find the show's subject matter to be VERY dated and therefore "Blood Brothers" is very much a piece of its period.
I don't think I can agree that Blood Brothers is "dated". The class system is alive and well, alas.
I saw the show about fifteen years ago in Toronto, a touring production starring David Cassidy who shocked me with his perfect English accent! I knew nothing about it going in and was utterly blown away by it - it was SO powerful.
Admittedly the score isn't much but experiencing it live, in a theatre... wow!
Blood Brothers is more relevant today than it was 10 years ago. The design of the production may not be very lush, but the story/book is still one of the strongest in the WestEnd - well, IMO
The subject matter is as much for today as it was when it was written in the same way that Lez Miz is about hope, dream, freedom, aspiration - these musicals have timeless themes which is why they still work.
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joined:11/29/09
Posted: 8/4/12 at 04:16pm