In the blood

It could be said that Blood Brothers is the single most successful theatrical production ever to be staged in Ireland. 96,000 people saw it when it was first produced here in 1984 and it has since been staged on at least three more occasions. It could also be argued that one of the major reasons for the show’s phenomenal success is the presence, in the lead role, of Rebecca Storm. Indeed, every time the show is staged in this country no one, even for a moment, seriously considers casting anyone else for the role of Mrs. Johnstone.

Better still, when Storm first played Mrs. Johnstone she was barely out of her teens. These days she is the mother of a daughter who has recently left adolescence and, as such, Rebecca can “more easily relate to” the emotional trauma the besets Mrs. Johnstone when her twin sons are parted at birth. Indeed, Storm feels that her interpretation of the part has improved significantly over the years.

“Let’s face it, I got the part in 1983 because I had the right voice for Willie’s songs but as far as the acting was concerned I had a lot to learn” she says, actually speaking on a mobile phone during a break in a performance of Blood Brothers! “Yet I definitely feel now, nineteen years later, that I’ve grown into the part in terms of interpreting the drama as well as interpreting the songs. And so I feel that what I’m doing is more believable, more authentic. And apart from having watched my own daughter grow up and leave home I’ve also experienced some very profound life events, such as, say, the death of my mother and the suicide of one of my closest friend’s sister.”

The same deepening sense of experience also shows in Storm’s interpretation of Blood Brothers showstoppers such as Tell Me It’s Not True, not to mention on her recent – and sadly neglected album – I Want To Know What Love Is. After being remixed by her producer/arranger partner Kenny, the record is now set to be released in both its original and reworked forms as a two-for-the-price-of-one CD.

All of which is maybe even more relevant to Rebecca given that after this run of Blood Brothers ends she will be back to pushing her music career. Now a resident in Ireland than means forthcoming gigs, including Dublin’s Olympia.

“I’m just checking to see that I’m not being called back on stage!” she responds, clearly more concerned with her role as Mrs. Johnstone than this chance to plug gigs. Or albums. “The Sunday after Hot Press comes out I’ll be doing the NEC in Killarney, the back to the Olympia on the 30th of March. Then we’re at the Cork Opera House on the 18th and 19th of April. But the re-issue really is like a Greatest Hits collection and when we heard the original tapes we were amazed at how good they still sound. The orchestrations are marvellous.

And though there are a few parts where I’d love to have a go at reinterpreting some of the songs again I was really amazed at how good the singing was. Because I am hyper critical of myself. But looking back at this album and even the new album I am quite proud of the work I’ve done.”

One presumes that Rebecca Storm also is proud of her nearly twenty year commitment to Blood Brothers.

“In more ways than I can say it’s been one of the best things that ever happened to me.”

Go, Rebecca, you’re wanted on stage!

“See ya!”