Jersey Boys

Farjana Rahman

Jersey Boys is based on the electrifying true life story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. With spectacular performances of their hits, follow the rollercoaster journey of a group of working class boys from the streets of New Jersey, who worked their way to the heights of international pop stardom.

The show follows the journey of a group of working class kids who started life on the wrong side of the tracks but, by writing their own songs and inventing their sound, sold over 100 million records, all before they were thirty – becoming one of the greatest successes in pop music history.

I was familiar with the production after I watched the Royal Variety Performance, in which the actors had performed some of the songs offering a little sneak preview of the magic that was about to be unleashed on the great British public.

The music was amazing, making the audience sway to the rhythms. The songs were the actual and very popular ones released by Frank Valli & The Four Seasons. For a teenager like me, they proved to be extremely popular, especially in light of new releases by the new artist Madcon; ("Beggin").

The older generation would obviously savour the hits, reliving the 60s with "Walk Like A Man" and "Who Loves You". There was also the brilliant classic romantic song, "Cant Take My Eye Off You", gripping the audience with pure emotion. The performances, especially the songs were magnetic and instantly caught on. I had travelled to the theatre humming the songs quietly to myself in excited anticipation of what was to come. I wasn’t disappointed – I left the theatre with the songs loaded onto my memory banks and the lyrics steaming from my lips.

We were very fortunate as our seats were amongst the grandest and the view of the stage was amazing. All could be seen perfectly, every expression was so lucid and clear.

The atmosphere within the cauldron was amazing and buzzing with anticipation. The audience were gripped and there was constant clapping and encores from the gallery.

A lot of the audience joined in the singing, but I held back, a tad self conscious and embarrassed. The final showdown resulted in a huge round of clapping. It was plain obvious that those in attendance had thoroughly enjoyed the show. “Amazing, magic, beautiful,” I heard an American tourist announce to his companion as I made my way back to my seat after the interval.

The beautiful stage scenery had a main frame which the actors used, and there were stairs leading up to the balcony. The stage props were breathtaking and the periodically dimmed lights provided clever cover for members of the set to enter and exit the stage. My favourite scene was probably the performance of "Sherry," performed using an old film camera (which was used in the 60s) and projected on to a big screen, giving the impression of the artists being one with fans, as if they were on TV with fans screaming.

As a younger attendee to this wonderful production I would certainly recommend this show for everyone and anyone. The older generations will enjoy reminiscing and the younger crowd will not be able to help themselves being encapsulated by the whole experience. If you don’t have any inkling of what’s to come, the least you will gain is leaving the theatre quietly humming all the infectious songs to yourselves.

This sensational production features many of the bands worldwide hits, including: Beggin’, Oh What a Night, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Sherry, Walk Like a Man, Bye Bye Baby, Big Girls Don’t Cry and many more.
This evening made me realise just how good theatre is. It was my first ever experience, and certainly not the last.

www.jerseyboyslondon.com

Farjana Rahman is a secondary school student from Hampshire

Allah made me funny - Apollo Hammersmith - 17.04.09

Review report to follow very shortly...

Goalkeeping masterclass!

A masterclass in netkeeping - Though I'm no Gordon Banks, I'm sure Tim Howard caught a few tips from yours truly for this afternoon' FA cup semi :)

Total Football

Emdad Rahman meets Mamun Choudhury MBE

Asians may yet be looking to make the full breakthrough in football, but there are signs that things are about to change.

One of the many factors affecting Asians from making the grade to the higher echelons of football has been the lack of commitment at grassroots level. Many Asians still view football as very much a pastime, and many families, including promising youngsters have found it difficult juggling their academic commitments with their footballing aspirations.

The general attitude in the past has been one of, “studies come first,” and if a budding youngster makes the footballing cut, then and only then can a change of career be considered, albeit with much trepidation.

“Attitudes are changing,” said Mamun Choudhury, the newly appointed manager of Sporting Bengal United.

“More and more young people are taking a professional and long term interest in football and we have a lot of talented and dedicated coaches at grassroots level.

“Parents are more relaxed about their children participating in football, after all it’s an outlet that keeps many off the mean streets and away from the crime that is rife on our streets.

“With blossoming interest and FA backed grassroots schemes, it’s only a matter of time before we have another Michael Chopra, Zesh Rahman, Anwar Uddin and Adnan Ahmed playing consistently in the greatest league in the world.”

Lifelong community worker Mamun was awarded the MBE in honour of his dedication to Asian grassroots football in the Queens new years honours list.

At the age of 16 Mamun co founded football team. Thus commenced his long running love affair with Beaumont FC, starting with a role as the secretary of the club. Working with legendary Stepney Green teacher Colin (Astrojim) Reeves, the eager and quick witted teenager worked his way swiftly through the ranks to become the manager of this community team, becoming the youngest Bangladeshi football manager in Tower Hamlets, and one of the youngest in the country.

An FA qualified coach, Mamun also took on additional roles within the club to steer it towards more success. In 2001 he steered his beloved Beaumont to gain intermediate football status, and in 2006 helping to acquire the charter standard mark and senior club status, allowing the club to play at senior level football and the FA cup.

As manager Mamum led Beaumont FC to numerous league titles, competitions both home and abroad and various cups. His most notable success was the UK Bangladeshi championship in 2005.

In March 2009 Mamun was appointed manager of Kent senior league team
Sporting Bengal United, the senior club in the borough of Tower Hamlets. Footballing blogs were rife with speculation with what this new appointment would mean for Sporting’s fortunes. The majority of comments from rivals in the senior league pointed to Mamun’s top draw footballng pedigree and that coupled with his managing ability and experience would most .

Sporting Bengal Chairman Suroth Miah is optimistic about Mamun’s appointment; “We appointed what we strongly felt was the best manager available”, said Suroth.

“Mamun is a young manager with bags of experience.

“He possesses thorough local knowledge, and great interaction with players. This will allow him to bring the best local footballers together

“Having provided Mamun with the platform that best befits his standing in the game, we will equip Mamun with able backup and valuable support extended to all Sporting managers.

“Mamun has taken over for the last 4 games of the season, and there have been many positive signs. We are quietly optimistic about next season,” he added.

Mamun will combine his new role as head coach at Sporting Bengal United with managing the Beaumont first team. This is a mammoth task in any capacity but Mamun is optimistic; “I will be relying on a strong support network,” he said.

“I have faith in my ability and combined with experience gained through working alongside many football stalwarts, I hope to carry out both roles to the best of my ability.”

Asked as to what ingredients are vital in a footballing prodigy, Mamun blinks before reeling off a list; “dedication is foremost – the single key ingredient. You can have the greatest talent in the world, but if you’re not tuned in then you can find yourself very quickly on the scrapheap.

“Grassroots football is ruthless, and you don’t get many chances to make a mark on coaches and scouts. The wrong attitude can be very costly.”

“Ability, fitness, and flexibility are important too. At the end of the day, if you’re good enough you’ll rise to the top – it’s that simple.”

Mamun’s remarkable work as a volunteer continues outside his club duties. From 2001, he is the only individual to have carried out years of volunteer services with all the major volunteer organisations in the borough.

Mamun's work has not gone unnoticed and he has received many awards for
his hard work. In 2001 he was presented with a volunteer award by the Stepney Voice newspaper, and in 2005 he won the Jack Petchey leaders award. Similarly, in 2006 Mamun was awarded the Canary Wharf volunteer award.

“I’ve been very lucky to have had a lot of support from family, friends and colleagues,” added Mamun. “The icing on the cake has been the MBE. I may have received it as an individual, but this is testament to the wonderful people who supported me all the way.”

Hillsborough - Gone but never ever forgotten

Steel City for one day became Merseyside
No blots on the horizon point to trouble
The Red machine is in full swing
All conquering on the road to the double

Through the peak district to Sheffield
Fans savour “God’s own County”
Famed Woodhead and Snake passes
Amongst the finest of all in Blighty

On the banks of the River Don
To Hillsborough they rejoice and head
Built 9 decades prior to the year
Soon to be a shrine to the dead

Red Battalion of 13 arrives in port
Grobelaar, Ablett, Nicol, Staunton
Beardsley, Aldridge, Burrows, Whelan
Barnes, Houghton, McMahon, Rush, Hansen

At 2.55pm there are shrieks of delight
Witness all too customary a scene
Led out by Ray Lewis – the Hillsborough ref
King Kenny’s champs take to the green

3:00pm signals further gladness
Big match kicks off with a flourish
Heaving Leppings Lane End, opposite the Spion Kop
Human pen where many will perish

No stewards where it mattered
As ticketed Reds wielded their gold
With the carnival very much in full flow
Death’s shrill voice, calls out cold

A moral free Police Chief on call
“Deceitful” Duckenfield the security host
Ham-fisted Superintendent Murray
Responsible for the control post

“Dishonest” Duckenfield the rookie
Held critical sway over blameless fates
Yet still gave that fateful order:
Instructing; "Open the gates"

Despite a lucid view of the Leppings pen
Culpable of gross duty evasion
“Deceitful, dishonest” match commander
Mistook all for a pitch invasion

In streamed an abundance of ticketed Reds
Adding to an already burgeoning number
Intensity, panic, horror set in
The Police obstinate in their slumber

Asphyxiation took hold and ribs shattered
“Please Bruce (Grobelaar), help us!” they exclaim
As Beardsley struck the bar
Ray Lewis whistled the end of the game

The whistle set in motion a nightmare
All beheld an abominable crush
The carnival fizzled out with a whimper
Death mingled with the huge onrush

Paramedic Tony Evans blocked entry
“They’re fighting”, the Police scowled
As ad hoardings became makeshift stretchers
“Shan’t abandon the dead” another growled

Death’s stench, permeated in abundance
Owl’s gym resembling an ER ward
Powerful and all encompassing
Lone, distant, grief stricken voices roared

Trevor Hicks and his teenage daughters
In memory evergreen
Sarah and Victoria captured forever in time
Everlastingly 19 and 15

For Jon Paul, Stevie G’s cousin
3:06 the dead whistle blown
Paul Harrison senior amongst the deceased
And the rest will never be unknown

94 confirmed dead on the day
Football watched with bated breath
95 the figure four days later
Wee Lee Nicol succumbed to death

Switched off from life four years later
Number 96, Anthony David Bland
“Matter of life and death” a world away
It’s still “Justice”, the families demand

22 years and questions unanswered
Resolve is now rock iron mould
Malicious falsehoods add fuel to the fire
But justice is best served cold

Never forget the screams
The denials, the lies, the sorrow
You’ll never walk alone
Not yesterday, today or tomorrow.

For the victims and their families
Number 7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

Allah Made Me Funny - Live at the Apollo

One Night Only – April 17th 2009 - The show to cross all cultures!

Allah Made Me Funny, the world’s funniest Muslim comedy show is back in town for a one off performance at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. The stand up comedy show consists of three of America’s funniest comedian’s who will deliver one night of hilarious new material on topics such as being a muslim in America, politics, weddings and many more funny insights into growing up as a modern Muslim in today’s world.

The three comedians who form the ‘Allah Made Me Funny’ team are all well respected performers across America and now aim to bring down some social barriers in the UK. The Apollo show is aimed at all cultures and comedy fans, it’s a must see show for those that have missed the previous sell out tours.

Mo Amer, is known to many as the World’s Funniest Palestinian! – Mo has recently toured Iraq performing to the US troops and performed in many countries around the world including the Middle East. He is still classed as a refugee (travels with refugee passport) by the American government and is now seen by many as one of America’s bright comedy hopefuls for the future. He himself hopes to one day perform back in his family homeland roots of Palestine.

Preacher Moss, an Afro American Muslim convert has toured extensively across the USA and Europe for many yrs, he talks about many issues including being black and fitting into an Asian Muslim family.

Azhar Usman, better known to his friends as the lawyer has performed extensively across the States, Europe and also in India. His brand of humour and appearance will make you smile instantly as he describes his upbringing and how his looks often lead to ridiculous judgements by others.

“It's surely no overstatement to claim the world needs this tour” Edinburgh Evening News

“Heard the one about the bomber?” Guardian “Funniest guys I have ever heard” Sir David Frost

Tickets from £25 - £35 – www.ticketmaster.com / www.chillitickets.com

Info on AMMF – www.ammftour.com / www.allahmademefunny.com