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Reviews of 'Disposing of the Body'    

Reviews of 'Blood Brothers'

Review by Liz McMurray, Spalding Guardian / Lincolnshire Free Press

 

St Nicolas Players gave a superb performance with their production of Willy Russell’s play Blood Brothers last week at the South Holland Centre.

This is the gritty story set in Liverpool of twin boys being separated at birth destined to live very different lives but become the best of friends, unfortunately not with a fairy tale ending instead a tragic one that gives the audience much to think about.

Emma Dobbs and Amber Sinclair playing Mrs Johnston and Mrs Lyons portrayed the agony and fear of losing a child forever brilliantly and Nick Fletcher as the narrator gave an eerie and menacing feel to the whole performance.

The roles of Mickey, Eddie and Linda (played by Mark Spellman, Rob Callaby and Lucy Allen) changed the audience’s mood from light hearted laughter when they played the carefree children unconfined by social barriers to a darker feel as these superb players grew up to face the responsibilities and pressures of adult life and class differences.

The whole performance was very professional and thought provoking, the players, costumes, scenery and music brought together a great evening and credit goes to Gemma Page (Director)Tom Millard (Producer) The Cast and Production team, not one detail was missed.

Look out for St Nicolas Players next performance in the Spring with ‘Allo ‘Allo by Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft.

Review by Peter Breech, NODA

 

This play depicts the experiences of twin brothers who are separated soon after their birth and brought up on opposite sides of the social divide. Mickey (Mark Spelman) remains with his mother Mrs Johnston (Emma Dobbs), an impoverished woman who is worn down through endeavouring to provide care and control over her already sizeable family and Eddie (Rob Callaby), who is given to Mrs Lyons (Amber Sinclair), a childless woman who has an affluent life-style and desperate to have her own family.

 

All these principals delivered strong and convincing performances in their respective roles. There was also excellent characterisation from those in supporting parts with much attention to detail; Linda (Lucy Allen) was very good at replicating the physical agility of a youngster and then moving through teen years to adulthood. Those taking other children’s parts were also impressive, altering their movements and body language to match the phases of their development.

 

The well designed set created the necessary space required to accommodate the movement of the actors and the stage crew carried out the requisite changes efficiently so that the pace was maintained. The clever use of make-up conveyed the appearance of ageing.

This gritty and thought-provoking tale of how class differences can have such devastating effects on lives really gripped the audience. Congratulations to all members of the team involved in the production

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