Blood Brothers Character Analysis

Mrs. Johnstone

The biological mother of Mickey and Edward (as well as a horde of other children, including Sammy and Donna Marie), Mrs. Johnstone is a deeply superstitious woman who is forever scrambling to get by… read analysis of Mrs. Johnstone

The Narrator

All-knowing and always slightly menacing, the Narrator takes many roles throughout the musical. Sometimes he plays various parts (such as the Milkman), while at other times he watches the action and comments upon it… read analysis of The Narrator

Mickey

As the twin that the lower-class Mrs. Johnstone keeps, Mickey has a rough-and-tumble childhood, but at his core he is an honest, sincere, and goodhearted individual (much like his twin brother Edward). Unlike Edward… read analysis of Mickey

Edward

Like his twin brother Mickey, Edward is a sincere, honest, and good-natured boy. Despite having grown up in the lap of luxury with the high-strung and snobbish Mrs. Lyons, he is not entitled… read analysis of Edward

Mrs. Jennifer Lyons

The opposite of Mrs. Johnstone—whom she employs as a cleaning lady when the play begins—the infertile and snobbish Mrs. Lyons adopts Edward as her own child, and raises him as a wealthy, upper-class boy… read analysis of Mrs. Jennifer Lyons

Linda

Linda begins the musical as a tomboyish young girl, but quickly morphs into an object of desire for both of the twin brothers. At the beginning of her adolescence, she only has eyes for Mickey… read analysis of Linda

Sammy Johnstone

The “bad apple” of the Johnstone family, Sammy begins the play as an object of envy for his younger brother, Mickey. Dropped on his head by a young Donna Marie when he was a… read analysis of Sammy Johnstone

Mr. Richard Lyons

A wealthy businessman, Mr. Lyons feels affection for his wife Mrs. Lyons and his son Edward, but is too oblivious and self-important to realize that Edward is in fact not his biological child. As… read analysis of Mr. Richard Lyons

The Policemen

Figures of authority, policemen show up at various unlucky times throughout the musical. At first their antics are fairly comical as they try to keep Edward, Mickey, and Linda from mischief, but later… read analysis of The Policemen

Minor Characters

Miss Jones

The secretary to the Managing Director, Miss Jones transcribes the firing of many employees (including Mickey) before being fired himself.

Donna Marie

One of Mrs. Johnstone’s older children. Donna Marie dropped Sammy on his head when he was a baby, and she too becomes a mother at a young age.

Milkman

A character played by the Narrator, the Milkman threatens to stop delivering to Mrs. Johnstone unless she pays him. This is the final straw that convinces her to give up one of her twins.

Gynecologist

Also played by the Narrator, the Gynecologist reveals to Mrs. Johnstone that she’s going to have twins.

Catalogue Man

The Catalogue Man scolds Mrs. Johnstone for ordering gifts she can’t afford for her children.

Finance Man

The Finance Man attempts to force an impoverished Mrs. Johnstone to pay her bills.

Teachers

Generally figures of joyless oppression, one teacher tries to force Edward to remove his locket, while another mocks Mickey for being bored in school. Like the policemen, they symbolize authority.

Neighborhood Children

Friends of Mickey and Linda growing up. The neighborhood children enjoy playing games about war, guns, and violence.

Managing Director

Another figure of uncaring authority, the managing director fires hundreds of employees (including his faithful secretary Miss Jones, and the luckless Mickey) without any feelings of guilt or remorse.

Judge

The Judge sentences the juvenile delinquent Sammy, but is lenient on him because he finds Mrs. Johnstone attractive. Like many figures of authority in the play, he is hypocritical and dishonest.

Conductor

The conductor drives the bus that the criminal Sammy tries to rob.

Doctor

Employed at Mickey’s prison, the doctor prescribes him antidepressants, beginning his addiction.

Warder

The warder takes Linda to visit Mickey while he’s in prison.

Woman

A strange woman who greets Mickey at Edward’s former house after the Lyons family moves away.

Neighbors

The Johnstones’ neighbors in Liverpool rejoice when they hear that the large, rowdy family is moving to the country.

City Councilors

The councilors, Edward’s colleagues, are horrified witnesses when Mickey guns Edward down in city hall (and is killed in turn by the police).

Sarah

The young daughter of Mickey and Linda.

Blood Brothers

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Blood Brothers Characters