Blood Brothers at Milton Keynes Theatre started its current tour in January 2008 as the 25th anniversary production of the musical.

Willy Russell claims to have written Blood Brothers as a play with music. And what music!

Starting with the conclusion, the audience knows exactly where the story goes, but it's getting there that entertains and holds the audience.

Scenery, scenery changes (no stagehands dressed in black shuffling objects about the stage!), and the ways the songs are belted out; there is no let up in the entertainment.

From the moment the narrator for the evening (Robbie Scotcher) makes his appearance, dressed in black, with only his face there to illustrate his words, our attention is captured - no less than our first view of the twins; Mickey (Sean Jones) and Eddie (Paul Davies), walking on then lying prone on the stage floor, with mourners standing and watching.

The word 'slick' comes to mind when analysing the production. However, there is precious little time to do that - not when the story is serious, funny, and so well told. There is no let up through pauses to change scenery or direction.

The cast are 'miked up' so that there is no chance of the audience missing a softer portion of a song. Initially the location of the microphones placed over the forehead seems 'odd,' but is not a concern or an observation that continues beyond the beginning of the production.

Usually a good measure of how well an audience is faring is that short period immediately after the interval. Admittedly the loud overture that kicked off part two gave no chance for that 30 seconds of coughing and shuffling that can sometimes take place while an audience gets 'back into the groove,' however, rapt attention was the order of the day, as it has been throughout the first part of the musical.

Bob Tomson and Bill Kenwright have done Willy Russell's Blood Brothers proud by way of direction and production. The production was a treat for attendees of Milton Keynes Theatre.

Would I go again to see it? Oh yes! And judging from the enthusiastic standing ovation at the end, I'd say that most of the audience would, too - even having seen the conclusion at the start and now knowing how it gets there!

- David Arthur