Blood Brothers Play Guide for AQA GCSE Drama

SECTION B STUDY OF A SET PLAY: BLOOD BROTHERS 29 KEY TERMS Protagonist: The leading character in a play. Love interest: A character whose primary importance is their romantic relationship with a central character. Choral character: A character who comments on the action of a play, while also participating in some of the action. Antagonist: A character who opposes, works against or brings down the protagonist. MRS LYONS • Middle-class married woman who employs Mrs Johnstone as a cleaner. • Confesses her desire to have a child. • Asks Mrs Johnstone to let her have one of the twins. • Becomes worried about Mrs Johnstone coming between her and Edward. • Mental health deteriorates. • Attacks Mrs Johnstone with a knife. • Tells Mickey about Edward and Linda’s meetings. • Could be considered the play’s antagonist . EDWARD • Mickey’s twin brother. • Raised by the Lyons. • At seven, a well-spoken, friendly boy eager to make new friends. • Becomes ‘blood brothers’ with Mickey. • Raised in a protective, middle-class environment. • At 14, is sent to a boarding school. • During teenage years, Mickey, Linda and he spend several summers together. • Goes to university. • Becomes a councillor and begins a relationship with Linda. MR LYONS • Mrs Lyons’ husband. • Has an important job which requires him to work long hours and travel. • Exasperated by his wife’s constant worrying. • At his wife’s urging, agrees to move the family out to the countryside. • Seen firing employees in the song ‘Take a Letter, Miss Jones’. NARRATOR • Mysterious, unnamed character. • Comments on the action of the play. • Reminds the audience that there are ‘debts to pay’ and there will be a ‘reckoning day’. • Could be considered a choral character . • Mickey finally asks her out and their relationship moves quickly. • Becomes pregnant and marries Mickey. • When Mickey comes out of prison, she asks Edward to help them. • Begins seeing Edward secretly.