Blood Brothers

Now in its nineteenth year, 'Blood Brothers' sounds its age. It's packed with unconvincing synth strings, the voices reverb like King Kong's bathroom and the forced drama with which the more emotional numbers are served up adds to the over-blown eighties feel.

Yet shows don't survive this long for no reason, and Willy Russell's tale of Merseyside twins separated at birth has much to recommend. Russell populates this gently political show with familiar social types, even stereotypes. Neurotic, middle-class Mrs Lyons makes a deal with her cleaner, Mrs Johnstone, a poor mother with a heart of gold. She will take one of Mrs Johnstone's expected twins off her hands. Posh Eddie and common Mickey become friends despite growing up on different sides of the tracks, yet the curse of class proves inescapable.

It's worth nothing that until Billy Elliot came along, Blood Brothers was the only noticeably English West End long-runner and it's still a strange delight to hear Scouse accents in a musical. The show has two great tunes, one decent one and lots that are instantly forgettable. But its storytelling is brisk and the ensemble cast are astonishingly lively for a show this old (especially given I saw it at a Saturday matinee - the hangover shift). The idyllic scenes of childhood are genuinely heart-warming, even though an annoying narrator butts in every ten minutes to insist that tragedy is around the corner.

The Nolan sisters seem to have bagsied the part of Mrs Johnstone for good. The current occupant, Maureen Nolan, is doing a fine job - all Pauline Collins charm as she takes the knocks. As Mickey, Anthony Costa (apparently from boy-band Blue) is great acting like a kid, though less compelling when Mickey's adult life hits the skids. Blood Brothers will need an overhaul soon. I can't see audiences standing for its dated orchestrations in another ten years time. But for now, it remains a show to be seen: its simple politics, simple values and simple tunes adding up to something that is timelessly enjoyable.