It's always nice to eavesdrop on the audience leaving a theatre and I don't think I ever heard the word "fantastic" more than I did on my way out of the White Rock on Monday. It's even nicer to find yourself smiling in agreement.

Blood Brothers is a parable of nature versus nurture, a story about two twins separated at birth whose destinies remain entwined for the whole of their short lives.

The musical opens with the aftermath of their deaths before presenting the events that got them there, and it is testament to the actors that despite knowing how it ends, the audience is pulled into the action.

The shadowy, sharp-suited narrator (Robbie Scotcher) is a constant reminder of the dark denouement to come – even when he doesn't speak his silent, broody presence is unsettling and he seems to tower over
the stage.

Lyn Paul (of New Seekers fame) gives a powerhouse performance as Mrs Johnstone, the poverty stricken mum of many who finds herself pressured into giving up son Eddie to her wealthy employer. Like the whole cast she is note perfect, and brings a pathos and humour to the role that fills the theatre.

The first half follows the childhoods of twins Mikey (Sean Jones) and Eddie (Paul Davies) and it flies along with pace and charm. It is no revelation to say author Willy Russell (Shirley Valentine, Educating Rita) is a master of capturing the spirit and frustrations of the working classes – what is more noteworthy is his superb way with children's speech.

Also for a master wordsmith he has some brilliantly subtle touches – one moment with a horseriding impression conveys more about the twins' different paths than a thousand speeches could.

The second half takes a darker turn as Eddie goes off to university to take up his life of privilege while Mikey struggles with unemployment, drugs and crime.

The final scenes play out with a grim predictability, the final showdown between the brothers as tense as they are terrible.

This is a brash, big-budget and sometimes oddly beautiful production full of first-class performances, great songs and the live band brings an added touch of class.

There are issues – for me the pace dragged briefly in the second half but the moment I went to write that down, events spiralled forward to a conclusion.

And for all the timeless themes involved – there is an oddly 1980s feel to some of the production, with over-the-top sound and light effects which jar in 2010 – the last scene is fraught enough without the Eastenders style drum beats.

But these are minor points all told – this exceptional show richly deserved the standing ovation it received. Fantastic indeed.