It's an excellent story, full of laughs and tears. Mrs. Johnstone, who is barely getting by with the several children she already has, discovers she is pregnant again with twins (Micky and Eddie). She cannot support both of them so her employer, Mrs. Lyons, who is unable to have children, convinces Mrs. Johnstone to let her keep one of the babies. However, the boys are never to know that they are twins, for if they find out, so superstition says, they will both immediately die.
Of course, as years pass, the boys do meet and become best friends. They become 'Blood Brothers' and are always there for each other. But as they get older, they see the differences their social classes have brought upon them. They have grown up differently and tension starts to form between the two of them. But still, they never know the truth until it's too late.

Though it is a bit crude in some parts, BLOOD BROTHERS remains and probably always will be my favorite musical of all time. The plot of the story revolves around a set of twins (Mickey and Eddie) separated at birth because their mother cannot afford to raise two more children. A deal is struck with the infertile employer of Mrs. Johnstone, Mrs. Lyons, and one of the children is raised by the Lyons in luxury. The only catch, no one must ever know the truth. As life has it, the boys eventually meet anyway and become the best of friends, blood brothers.

Willy Russell created a real gem here. BLOOD BROTHERS is a moving musical filled with all the tragedy and comedy of life, but without resorting to sentimental sap. The play exposed and illustrated to me the fatal flaws of the British economic caste system in a way far better than any other piece of literature ever has. It's a great play and though the moving music is not found here in the script, there's still the story.

On welfare and already with too many children to call her own, Mrs. Johnstone is once again faced with another pregnancy--this time, twins. With the ability to only support one, Mrs. Johnstone is persuaded to give one of the babies to her childless employer, Mrs. Lyons. In an attempt to keep the boys apart when they unknowingly meet face-to-face and become "blood brothers," the Lyons move to another home in the English countryside. When the Johnstones are relocated, Mickey and Eddie again are happily reunited. As they get older, however, the difference in their social classes and a bitter love triangle tear them apart. One of the most haunting musical tragedies since West Side Story.

Firstly,I was surprised in the extreme to see that The wrong boy is not currently available in America but what the hey,Ill review it anyway.
This is a book that is in equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking,a tome that moves through one boys early childhood to his ill fated attempt to get a job and break free form his lonely existence.
Raymond Marks is a normal boy until the age of ten when he is made scapegoat for a rude boys game at the local canal.Ostracised by his friends and subsequently blamed for a child abduction,Raymonds life moves from one disaster to the next until he ultimately ends up in a secure psychiatric unit.
Told in the form of letters to his hero Morrissey,the wrong boy will captivate all who read it and whilst set in Manchester,Northern England will be recognised by people anywhere in the world.
Buy it.

in my opinion, frank is educating rita, as well as rita is educating frank. Rita learns much about literature whereas Frank learns much about life.By the end of the story, rita is more mature and educated of course, and frank becomes more lively and informal.

I just read Educating Rita as a part of my SACE Stage 1. Not only was it funny and imagineative but full of drama and suspense, I COULDN'T OUT IT DOWN! This would have to be one of Russell's finest plays!

I have just directed a production of Educating Rita and would like to thank the many people who put reviews on Amazon.com. Learning how others viewed the play was of great assistance and sent cast and director in interesting directions.

As to the play itself, if you want to study a modern play which is positively enhanced by critical analysis, I highly recommend Educating Rita.

A great read, but even more enjoyable when given life by actors - a fabulous play!

I have had to read this book for my GCSE coursework and personally my feelings towards the play are varied. It contained a lot of hidden morals and ideas, of which we have to write essays upon. I enjoyed this much more than his next play, 'Educating Rita' which also teaches us ideas about what education really is. This book also reflects the authors views and upbringing if you look closely at the 'hidden' ideas.

I enjoyed reading this play. It was fun to be read in the Liverpudlien accents!!!!! It is about two teachers that take the'Progress class' on a 'day out', not knowing what the children have instore for them. A good read!

the play Shirley Valentine was boring, and pov, who wants to read about some old crump who talks to the wall? not me......

This is the SCREENPLAY - not the stage version. Beware! I thought I was ordering the stage play. It's still a nice book though, with lots of notes and background info.

Shirley Valentine is a lovely character. She is a woman who started her life with fire and promise, and who found herself in her kitchen talking to the walls. Not because she is mad, but because her life is loveless, predicatable and dry. Until her friend takes her to Greece and her life changes, in many ways.

This is an absolutely delightful story. We can all identify with Shirley and her need to have a life with a little more meaning, and we can all cheer her as she goes about getting it. This is a poignant, sad and funny story, and it is a modern classic.

The play "Educating Rita" is quite a good one. It's interesting to follow Rita's change and her new experiences educated by Frank.

At the beginning Rita doubt herself and is absolutely not satisfied with her life. Till she meets Frank.She becomes more and more independent and self-confident. And so she finally leaves her husband and starts her life new. At the end she also leaves Frank because she doesn't need him any longer. Frank is lonely now; he has lost a good friend and his job too, because of his alcool- problem.

She has changed her life, but she isn't happier with her new life, because she can't go back and she doesn't arrive to manage her new life.

( two Swiss students

Willy Russell wrote a play about a woman who tries to find herself by being educated.Her name is Rita. She reads a lot of books and with the help of her professor Frank she is also able to understand them. She becomes independent, she leaves her husband and changes her life completely. At the end she doesn't need her teacher any longer and they go separate ways. The tragic point of the play is that Rita can't really improve her life inspite of all education. She can't go back to her former life, but she hasn't a new one yet. Frank is going to Australia, after loosing his job, because he is an alcoholic.

The play is interesting, but there are a lot of authors mentioned who make the whole text a bit difficult to read. It has been written in dialogues and threw the whole play there are only Rita and Frank talking to each other. We can recommend the book.

(two students) Aarau, Switzerland

This is yet another play written by Russel criticising the british classing system. This book tells the story of a young women, tired of her own class, who wants to change her way of life. This makes her an outcast in both her society and the one she is trying to become a member of....it is gripping and moving, but unfortunately very true..