Who is the most important character in Blood Brothers?

Who is the most important character in Blood Brothers?

The main characters in Blood Brothers are the twins Mickey Johnstone and Edward Lyons, and their mothers Mrs Johnstone and Mrs Lyons. Mickey and Edward’s friend Linda, who becomes Mickey’s wife, is also an important character.

How does Russell present the character of Mickey in Blood Brothers?

He is shown to be loyal and loving towards his friends Edward and Linda. When he is a teenager, Mickey is awkward and shy, particularly with Linda – who he has feelings for, which he is unable to express. He still lacks a good education and behaves badly at school, getting suspended for being rude to a teacher.

How does Russell present the narrator in Blood Brothers?

He does not directly interact with the characters on stage – although he sometimes speaks to them, they do not respond, but instead comments on events and communicates with the audience.

What is Russell’s message in Blood Brothers?

In the play, the friendship between Eddie and Mickey is initially strong despite their different social backgrounds. Russell is saying that children can make friends easily and form strong relationships even if their parents don’t approve. He is suggesting that human nature is blind to social conventions.

How does Russell use the character of Mickey to show the importance of education in Blood Brothers?

While Mickey uses swearwords which Edward has not heard before, Edward is shown to be better educated. Russell indicates to the audience that social class can have a significant impact on the levels of education of children, giving them different starting points in life.

Who is the villain in Blood Brothers?

Sammy Johnstone was born in the early 1960’s to Mr and Mrs Johnstone. Mrs Johnstone is in crippling debt, and because of this, his father walks out on him, Mrs Johnstone and her six other children.

How does Russell present some of the differences between social classes in Blood Brothers?

Analysis. Russell draws the audience’s attention to how Mickey and Edward’s lives have been affected by the opportunities they have had (as a result of their social class) rather than their personalities. If Mickey had access to the same education and contacts that Edward had, would the tragic ending have been avoided?

How does Russell present Mickey Edward?

Russell puts Mickey and Edward’s friendship at the centre of the play, ‘Blood Brothers’. The breakdown of that friendship leads to the ending which the play builds up to from the moment the Narrator reveals it in the opening scene. Mickey and Edward become friends within minutes of their first meeting.

What does the Devils got your number mean?

“the devil’s got your number” The devil, in this case, is a metaphor for bad choices and his having one’s number is a foreshadowing that such bad choices always wind up coming to haunt one in the end.

Which characters does the narrator play in Blood Brothers?

Casts

Character Original West End 1983 U.S Tour 1994
The Narrator Andrew Schofield Mark McGrath
Mrs. Johnstone Barbara Dickson Petula Clark
Mrs. Jennifer Lyons Wendy Murray Priscilla Quinby
Edward ‘Eddie’ Lyons Andrew C. Wadsworth Tif Luckenbill

How does Russell present ideas about education in Blood Brothers?

Education in “Blood Brothers” links to social class. Throughout the musical, Russell shows that wealth brings different educational opportunities, which leads to a different lifestyle. Eddie and Mickey are educated differently and, as such, lead different lives.

What job did Russell get after going to university?

At age twenty he returned to college, and upon graduating, became a teacher in Toxteth. He paid for his schooling by working a contract job cleaning oil from girders above machinery. It was dangerous and he stayed only long enough to make his money.

Why does Mickey shoot Edward?

Mickey shoots Edward by accident When Mickey is full of fury at Edward and Linda’s betrayal, his first thought is to take a gun to find his ‘blood brother’.

What is the name of Mrs Johnstone’s first child?

Mrs. Johnstone has the twins, and names the two children Michael (known as Mickey throughout the play) and Edward, but then regrets having agreed to give one away (“Easy Terms”). After keeping her deal with Mrs. Lyons, she lies to her older children, saying that the other baby had died and gone to heaven.

How does Russell present social class as an important theme in the play?

Russell draws the audience’s attention to how Mickey and Edward’s lives have been affected by the opportunities they have had (as a result of their social class) rather than their personalities. If Mickey had access to the same education and contacts that Edward had, would the tragic ending have been avoided?

What kind of mother does Russell show Mrs Johnstone to be?

Mrs Johnstone is a warm and caring mother, despite the struggles she faces supporting her eight children alone.

How does Russell present the importance of friendship?

Russell carefully shows the values and interests that they share in childhood and their teenage years: swearing, guns, challenging authority, romantic relationships. They seal their friendship within minutes of meeting with the ‘blood brothers’ ritual, ironically trying to become what they already are: brothers.

Is Mrs Lyons a superstition?

Superstition is immediately linked to the working class, because Mrs Johnstone is superstitious whereas Mrs Lyons isn’t.

How does the narrator describe Mrs Johnstone?

The Narrator describes her as ‘cruel’ in the prologue which frames the audience’s view of her as they don’t know anything else about her at this point. She is aged thirty but looks more like fifty. The stage direction describes Mrs Johnstone as looking much older than she actually is.

Is Blood Brothers a true story?

A prank by a couple of rich kids and their socially inferior playmate leads to murder in “Blood Brothers,” a surprisingly uncompelling drama, based on a true story, from freshman helmer Arno Dierickx.