| 1998 |
Blood Brothers celebrated its 10th anniversary. The press reviews highlighted Lyn Paul's "terrific" performance as Mrs. Johnstone and were generally agreed that she was a "fine excuse to see it again."
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| The Independent, 8th January 1998, page 6. |
Theatre Review: Family Favourite
Not the First Night: Blood Brothers
by Mike Higgins
Lyn Paul is reported to be unwell but the show goes on!
"Mrs. Lyons, the programme slip states, is Mrs. Johnstone tonight. The uptight middle-class business man's wife is to rough it as a put-upon Scouse single mother of god-knows-how-many and pretty convincing she is too. In reality, Lyn Paul, the usual Mrs. J, is unwell and Sarah Hay, her understudy, has had to swap her regular part (as Mrs. L) for Mrs. J's pinny.
Pulling off such cast changes without a hitch is, of course, what sustaining a long West End run is all about (another understudy has, of course, stepped in to play Mrs. L; while Mickey is not Stephen Palfreman, as billed, but Andy Snowden). If, however, a spanner has been thrown into the works of Bob Tomson's well-oiled production of Willy Russell's ambitious musical melodrama, it's to the cast's credit that the audience seems none the wiser."
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| Daily Telegraph, 7th February 1998. |
The Seventies
by Craig Brown
Craig Brown looks back at "the decade taste forgot".
"My memory has no sense of responsibility, no sense of style or education. That is why I could now recite all the lyrics of any Top 10 song by, say, the New Seekers or Chicory Tip." Good on ya, Craig!
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| The Independent, 20th February 1998, page 16. |
Don't be fooled: the New Gay may not even exist yet
by John Lyttle
A review of Colin Spencer's The Gay Kama Sutra, which the reviewer describes as: "192 touchy-feely pages marketing the New Gayness, so similar to the triumphant middle-classiness of New Labour, New Feminism and the New Seekers."
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| The Sun, 28th February 1998, page 11. |
Bodger or Badger
by Matthew Parris
In an article that was critical of the British Prime Minister Tony Blair, political commentator Matthew Parris recycled an old idea (check The Times, 17th May 1994).
"Would you like the measure of Tony Blair? Think Mary Hopkin. Think Cat Stevens's Morning Has Broken. Think the New Seekers. Think Peter, Paul and Mary... Those were the musical influences of his youth: the time when he found religion, too."
"His idea for a "New Britain" is that we should all pull together, all hold hands, all love one another, settle our differences, join the church choir and live happily ever after."
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| Daily Mail, 17th April 1998. |
Seeking out a sister act
Short article highlighting Lyn's appearance in Blood Brothers. Lyn's sister Nikki is quoted: 'I watched Lyn's opening night and she made me so proud I cried.'
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| The Argus, 21st April 1998. |
Star Lyn Saves Show
When Bernadette Nolan, who was several months pregnant, pulled out of the Blood Brothers production in Brighton, Lyn Paul rushed down to cover for her.
The manager of the Theatre Royal, Roger Neil, commented: "Bill Kenwright, who is directing the show, asked if Lyn would come down and step in. We're delighted that she did." Meanwhile, back in London, Lyn's role in the West End production was taken by an understudy.
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| The Times, 2nd May 1998, page 34. |
Pain of relegation not eased by past glories
by Brian Glanville
In his article about Everton and Manchester City football clubs, Brian Glanville recalled an incident from 1974.
"Let us earnestly hope that at least the Stoke City v Manchester City confrontation this weekend is less explosive than it has been in the past. A few years ago, when Manchester United played at the Victoria Ground, local hooligans hurled bricks at the coaches of United fans.
Inadvertently, they flung one through a coach carrying the New Seekers and, because of the air conditioning, there was a huge explosion.
The pop group thought they had been attacked by the IRA."
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| The Mirror, 9th May 1998, page 5. |
The glorious naffness that is Eurovision
by Thomas Quinn
"Even big names tend to come a cropper when they take on Eurovision...The New Seekers hoped for a win in 1972 with Beg, Steal Or Borrow, but lost out to a nobody from Luxembourg."
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| Daily Mail, 17th July 1998, page 43. |
Baz Bamigboye of the Daily Mail previewed the 10th anniversary of Blood Brothers.
Note the spelling: Lyn Paul gets an extra 'n" and Petula Clark gets an extra 'e'.
"Willy Russell's moving musical Blood Brothers celebrates its tenth anniversary on the boards in London with a special performance by Lynn Paul [sic] in the main role on July 27. Ms Paul, formerly of the New Seekers, leads the cast at the Phoenix Theatre, London. The show has long been on the list of must-sees for visitors to London, and producer Bill Kenwright has ensured that it's kept in good shape. Previous stars have included Petula Clarke [sic], Kiki Dee and Carole King."
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The Observer Features: Life Magazine,
26th July 1998, page 46. |
Play of the Week
by Jane Ferguson
"Many happy returns on Tuesday to Willy Russell's Blood Brothers, celebrating its tenth birthday at the Phoenix Theatre in London. This musical melodrama tells of twin Liverpudlian boys separated as babies and later reunited. The role of the boys' mum is traditionally taken by an ex-pop star and the latest... is Lyn Paul who, as a New Seeker, turned I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing into a worldwide hit."
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Birmingham Evening Mail,
29th July 1998, page 15. |
Brothers Celebrate Tenth Birthday
"Currently filling the role is Lyn Paul, whose voice is known to the whole world from her former group the New Seekers' multi-national hit I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing."
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| Daily Telegraph, 30th July 1998. |
Blood still flowing after a 10 year run
by Kate Bassett
"Lyn Paul sings Tell Me It's Not True and Easy Terms with winning simplicity and sustained melodiousness, yet also a mournful cracking in her smoky voice."
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| Herald, 30th July 1998. |
Review by William Russell
"The cast is small... requiring one "name", currently former New Seeker Lyn Paul, in the lead... Miss Paul is terrific as the raddled mum who regrets what she has done...
Russell is as sparing with tunes as Lloyd Webber and each one sounds pretty much like the last, but it is basically a very good tune. Miss Paul, Keith Burns as the menacing narrator, and the two boys sing well.
Blood Brothers got a deserved 10th birthday standing ovation."
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| The Independent, 30th July 1998. |
Blood is thicker than bubbly
by Paul Taylor
"The show has become a kind of life-support machine for erstwhile pop stars. Kiki Dee, Barbara Dickson, Carole King, Helen Reddy and Petula Clark (with David and Shaun Cassidy, no less, in tow as the twins) have all taken on the powerful central role of the hard-pressed Mrs. Johnstone, the Scouse single mother who, expectant with five children already, reluctantly agrees to hand over one of her newborn twins to her childless, middle class employer. In the strong current cast, Lyn Paul, another face and voice from yesteryear (remember her in the New Seekers teaching the world to sing in perfect harmony?) brings a terrific nasal plangency to the hit number Tell Me It's Not True and, at the end, stripped of make-up and with flattened hair, she is transformed into an unforgettable image of maternal lamentation."
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| The Times, 30th July 1998. |
Ten years on, the moral's still in the message
by Benedict Nightingale
"Blood Brothers is still one of the best pieces of popular theatre around."
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| Daily Mail, 31st July 1998. |
Theatre by Michael Coveney
"Lyn Paul, who liked to teach the world to sing with the New Seekers, has a good stab at Mrs. Johnstone, who gives away one of her twins to the woman whose house she cleans."
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| The Guardian, 31st July 1998, page 19. |
My Reshuffle
by Bel Littlejohn
Amidst all the Blood Brothers reviews, some political satire from Bel Littlejohn...
"I'm sorry, but I've been great mates with Harriet Harman ever since the early 1970s when, as Harriet Harmony, she led the New Seekers to the number 2 slot with her spirited rendition of Beg, Steal Or Borrow..."
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| The Sun, 31st July 1998, page 20. |
The Source says; Theatre
by Ally Ross
"Petula Clark, Kiki Dee, Barbara Dickson, David Soul, Helen Reddy and David Cassidy. The common link is Blood Brothers, the Willy Russell musical about twins separated at birth, that has just celebrated its tenth birthday in the West End.
The main role of Mrs. Johnstone is currently played by Lyn Paul, ex of the New Seekers. And who's to say that in ten years Posh Spice won't be up there at the Phoenix giving it her all."
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| Mail On Sunday, 2nd August 1998. |
Review by Georgina Brown
"An outstanding cast is led by Lyn Paul (ex-New Seeker) as Mrs. Johnstone - a heroine in the mould of vital, vivid women like Rita and Shirley Valentine whom Russell excels at - who is worn out but never worn down, her scrawniness belying a tough indomitability.
If you haven't seen the show it's a must; if you're one of the many already word-perfect, Lyn Paul is a fine excuse to see it again."
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| News of the World, 2nd August 1998, page 49. |
Review by Bill Hagerty
"Now starring ex-New Seeker Lyn Paul, the show is a three handkerchief mini-masterpiece and a devastating indictment of the lack of care and caring that deprived so many young people of hope in the soulless '80s.
If you haven't seen it, do go. If you have, go again."
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| The Observer, 2nd August 1998. |
Review by Brian Logan
"Lyn Paul once taught the world to sing with the New Seekers; to her richly powerful voice, Blood Brothers' current incarnation owes much of its success. As the beleaguered mother-of-too-many children Mrs. Johnstone, her greying resilience in the face of epic hardship S the play, while her rendering of Russell's forlorn melodies, lullabies to hope, make it soar."
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| Sunday Telegraph, 2nd August 1998. |
Theatre by John Gross
"A show that runs for ten years without benefit of hype or lavish effects is plainly giving people something they want. On the night I was there the audience rose to its feet at the end, as I'm told it usually does, with near-religious rapture.
Certainly there was plenty for it to applaud - some fine performances from Andy Snowden as Mickey and Lyn Paul as his mother; vigorous staging... some simple but haunting ballads."
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| What's On, 5th August 1998. |
Blood Brothers by Sam Marlowe
"The current cast is splendid. Lyn Paul, former New Seekers chanteuse, delivers a poignant Mrs. J."
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The Stage incorporating Television Today,
6th August 1998, page 8. |
REVIEWS The Phoenix: Blood Brothers
by Lisa Martland
"In the original 1983 production... Barbara Dickson played the lead role of Mrs. Johnstone... When the show returned to the capital in 1988, Kiki Dee took the part, and she has been followed here and worldwide... by... Stephanie Lawrence, Petula Clark, Carole King and Helen Reddy.
The latest recruit, Lyn Paul, also has a pop pedigree, having once been a member of the New Seekers... her highly emotional performance is memorable."
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| Spectator, 8th August 1998. |
Small is dazzling
by Sheridan Morley
"Lyn Paul now leads a wondrous new cast."
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| The Mirror, 14th August 1998, page 25. |
Teaching the world to sing, again
by Tony Purnell
"It celebrates its 10th birthday with Lyn Paul in the role of the hard-up mum who gives away one of her sons at birth.
The former pop star helped to teach the world to sing when she was with the New Seekers - now she is handing out acting lessons. There is not a dry eye in the house at the end of the evening."
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Theatre Record, Volume XVIII Issue 15,
16th August 1998, pages 982-985. |
Blood Brothers tenth anniversary: More on Blood Brothers
A collection of reviews of the 10th anniversary performance of Blood Brothers.
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| Weekly News, 22nd August 1998, pages 13 and 16. |
From top of the world to rock bottom - and back again!
In depth feature on Lyn chronicling her career from the chart-topping days with the New Seekers through divorce and bankruptcy to her role in Blood Brothers. Lyn revealed that after all the ups and downs of her life she'd now reached a point where she felt happy and relaxed.
"I have a brilliant job, a wonderful husband and a beautiful son. What more could a woman want?"
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| Daily Mail, 2nd October 1998, page 42. |
WATCH OUT FOr...
by Baz Bamigboye
Daily Mail columnist Baz Bamigboye gives a plug to the upcoming cabaret début of former boxing champion Barry McGuigan in a charity gala evening in aid of Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.
His article mentions that "guest performers include Lesley Garrett, Lyn Paul with the company of West End show Blood Brothers, Con O'Neil, Siobhan McCarthy and others."
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| Liverpool Echo, Wednesday, 2nd December 1998, page 15. |
Show's star keeps it in the family
A short news item about the production of Blood Brothers at the Liverpool Empire. Lyn Paul is pictured with her real son, Ryan, and with the actors who play her sons on stage, Stephen Donald and Simon Hepworth.
REVIEW: Blood Brothers, Empire
Triumph of joy and tears
by Joe Riley
"Lyn Paul is the latest (to Liverpool audiences) in what is now a long and distinguished line of Mrs. Johnstones, going back to Barbara Dickson.
Each has their own style, but I was particularly drawn to the way Ms. Paul combines radiance and good humour with the ultimate and overwhelming sense of grief."
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