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ACT I
The curtain rises to a group of people standing over the dead bodies of two young men. The bodies are taken away and the people exit leaving only one grieving woman (Overture). The narrator tells us this is Mrs Johnstone, the dead young men are her sons, and this is their story.
Mrs Johnstone explains how she has come to be a single parent of seven children (Marilyn Monroe). Paying her bills is a constant struggle but things seem to be looking up when she finds a job cleaning for an upper class woman, Mrs Lyons, but then she finds the child she is expecting is in fact twins. With her new job she could have afforded one more child, but not two. Mrs Lyons, on the other hand, is unable to conceive the child she desperately wants. She convinces Mrs Johnstone to give her one of the twins to raise as her own (My Child) - her husband is away for nine months and will believe the child is truly her own. Mrs Johnstone is reluctant at first and is only convinced when Mrs Lyons promises she can see the child every day.
In due course Mrs Johnstone gives birth to two boys, and returns from the hospital to find bailiffs recovering property that she could not afford to pay for. She laments of how things are never hers for very long, they always slip away from her, even one of her new-born sons which she is about to give away (Easy Terms). Mrs Lyons arrives to claim her child - the twins will be raised apart, Michael with his true mother, Edward with Mrs Lyons. Mrs Johnstone continues her work as cleaner in the Lyons home (Shoes Upon the Table), but forgetting her promise Mrs Lyons is disturbed at the constant reminder of Edward's real origin and convinces her husband to to agree to firing her. When Mrs Lyons fires Mrs Johnstone, she threatens to tell the truth about Edward, but Mrs Lyons tells her this will harm both twins - according to superstition, if twins secretly seperated ever find out about each other both will die.
The plot moves on seven years, and micky meets and befriends an upper class boy, Eddie, who is his age. They discover they have the same birthday and decide to become best friends, pricking their fingers and mingling the blood to become blood brothers. When Mickey introduces Eddie to his mother she realises the truth and sends Mickey indoors before telling Eddie he must not come there again. Later, Mickey is playing games with his friends, including his delinquent elder brother Sammy and his special friend Linds (Kids Games). He introduces Eddie to Linda and they become a gang of three. But Eddie's mother has found out about his friendship with Mickey and the association with his birth mother. In her insecurity she tries to convince her husband to move away from the area, resistant at first he agrees when Eddie's friendship with Mickey leads him into minor trouble with the police. When Eddie comes round to say goodbye to Mickey, Mrs Johnstone gives him a locket with a picture of herself and Mickey inside, and makes a pact with Eddie to keep it their secret. When the Lyons depart, both young boys are sad and lonely at being parted (Long Sunday Afternoon/My Friend).
Mrs Johnstone and the other tennants of her street receive letters informing them the street is to be torn down and they are to be rehoused in a new council estate bordering on the countryside. She is overjoyed at the chance of a fresh new start in a better environment for her children (Bright New Day).
ACT II
Settled in her new home, life has improved for Mrs Johnstone. She even has a new suitor who takes her dancing (Marilyn Monroe). The story has moved on another seven years, Mickey and Linda are now 14, sammy 16. Linda would like to be Mickey's girlfriend but Mickey is bashful and embarrassed and doesn't know how to tell her he feels the same. Edward, now at a private boarding school, is suspended for swearing at a teacher in refusing to give up the locket he always wears. At home, Mrs Lyons in angry that he has been suspended and wants to know what is in the locket and where it came from. She takes it from him, and demands to know why there is a picture of him and Mr Johnstone inside. Edward is confused and explains the boy inside is Mickey, not him, but will say no more. The narrator reminds us of what she has hidden (Shoes Upon the Table).
Now at home, Edward and Mickey cross paths. At first they don't recognise each other and each is envious of some aspect of the others demeanour (That Guy). But soon they realise and are overjoyed to have found each other again. Together with Linda, for a happy time they become inseperable again. More time passes, having left school Mickey has got a job in a factory and Edward is about to head off to University. He does not want to leave his friends again, particularly this time Linda, whom he realises he is falling in love with. But true to his friendship for Mickey, who he knows loves her too, he tells Linda that she and Mickey belong together whilst hinting at how he would trat her (I'm Not Saying a Word). Edward then finally persuades the bashful Mickey to admit his true feelings to Linda and they go off together.
A few months later Mickey tells his mother that Linda is pregnant. She gives her blessing for their marriage and agrees that they should both live with her. But their happiness is soon interrupted when cut-backs at the factory lead to Mickey losing his job ([Take a Letter] Miss Jones). When Edward returns home for Christmas he wants to celebrate with his friends who had promised to arrange a party, but Mickey is broke and angry over his inability to find work. Edward offers him money but this angers Mickey more, telling his friend that his life of privilege has kept him a child. They part angrily. Edward meets Linda and professes his love for her. She tells him she has always loved him in a way, but now she is married to Mickey. Desperate to make some money to support his wife and child, Mickey is tempted by his brother Sammy to assist him in a robbery. But it all goes wrong, Sammy shoots someone, but it is Mickey who is caught and imprisoned.
In prison, Mickey sinks into a fit of depression, and has to be prescribed pills to keep him calm. Mrs Johnstone explains the agony he is going through (Marilyn Monroe). Mickey is released after five years with time off for good behaviour. But by now he is totally dependant on the pills, he cannot give them up, even though they leave him morose and lethargic. Linda prevails upon their friendship with Eddie, now a councillor, to find them a home and a job for Mickey, hoping that a new start in life will help him recover. But Mickey realises where the largesse has come from, and becomes even more depressed and angry that he cannot provide these things for himself. Linda, distressed and lonely, turns to Edward for emotional support (Light Romance).
Mrs. Lyons, whose insecurity has blossomed into irrational hatred for the Johnstones, finds Mickey at work and informs him of Linda and Edward. It is the final straw for Mickey, who takes a gun and rushes off to the council chambers is search of Edward. The Narrator reminds us of the dire prophecy(Shoes Upon the Table/Madman). Mickey accuses Edward of owning everything he thought was his, including Linda and possibly even his child. The police arrive and order Mickey to put down the gun. Mrs. Johnstone and Linda arrive on the scene and beg Mickey to surrender, but he is beyond reason. In desperation Mrs. Johnstone tells Mickey he can't kill Eddie because he is his twin (whom he had always been told had died at birth). This only drives Mickey's jealousy beyond the breaking point, he asks why it was Edward and not him that she gave away. With a final cry of pain he shoots Edward, and is in turn shot by the police. As the prophecy foretold, both twins died together, shortly after discovering the truth.
Mrs Lyons arrives to find her son dead, and Mrs Johnstone is distraught at losing both boys (Tell Me Its Not True), and the story ends where it started.
This production did seem to have become just a little jaded compared to when I first saw it about eighteen months ago, and there does seem to be a little more of Linda Nolan now than there was then, but even so it is still a rousing musical with plenty of impact thanks to a strong story and excellent music. The action is fast paced with plenty of humour, particularly in the first act where the children are growing up with the carefree abandon of youth. The music is enjoyable with the main refrain of 'Marilyn Monroe' which runs as a backbone throughout being the most hummable (I guarantee it will be echoing around inside your head several days later).
Set in Thatcher's Britain, the story explores themes of social divide, superstition, and the devastation of being unable to find work. The first act is essentially a scene setter, full of fun as the children are growing up. The second half if much more sombre as the story races towards its tragic climax. A well constructed set consisted of an angled row of house fronts to right and left of stage with varying back drops behind. For the indoor scenes, backdrops are lowered from above and props brought on from the sides.
Linda Nolan is ideally suited to the part of Mrs Johnstone and still manages to bring a freshness to the role and her singing voice is just right. She clearly enjoys playing the part, almost drying up with laughter at one point and having to look to the conductor to recover her cue. Narrator Keith Burns kept us in line with the story and his Irish/Liverpool accent added a certain charm to the proceedings. Stephen Palfreman as Mickey was nothing less than than superb, flawless in his interpretation of the mischievious young boy, awkward teenager, and severely troubled young man. Craig Whiteley was excellent and a perfect foil as his posh twin Eddie. Also superb was Anna Sambrooks as Linda, growing up from the tomboyish young girl through the sexy teenager to the concerned young wife. Louise Clayton as Mrs Lyons gave us a portrayal of a somewhat snobbish woman, whose insecurity leads to the destruction of that she loved the most. Also worthy of mention was Matt Slack who was excellent in a medley of smaller parts (Policeman, Teacher and others).
Highly entertaining with an unusually strong storyline (for a musical) and some memorable tunes.