Lyn Paul is back in Edinburgh this week and in her familiar role as Mrs Johnstone in Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers at the Playhouse. She first joined the show in 1997 for a West End run then was asked back regularly by producer Bill Kenwright through the years joining this UK tour which runs all this week. If the name sounds familiar Lyn was a member of The New Seekers who had a string of hits in the early 1970’s. The group came to Edinburgh in 1972 for the Eurovision Song Contest and caused fan chaos from the base at the Caledonian Hotel. Their song Beg Steal Or Borrow came 2nd in the competition beaten by Vicki Leandros but was a huge hit anyway reaching No 2 and winning an Ivor Novello Award. Her role as Mrs Johnstone has been acclaimed by many while attracting a string of credible actresses. Mel C recently played the part and previously Linda Nolan, Kiki Dee & Barbara Dickson all shown. On Broadway Petula Clark was a success and Carole King asked if she could star. This is because of the motherly warmth of the role and one that all mums would understand and empathise with. Lyn Paul is sensational, aging slowly on stage as do her sons Eddie and Mickey played by Joel Benedict and Sean Jones. Separated at birth each will take a different path in life and the difficulties of poverty, crime and unemployment experienced by Mickey is expertly portrayed on stage this week. The Edinburgh audience loved this production bring back the cast time after time for more deserved acclaim.
Edinburgh Playhouse till Feb 13