Blood Brothers: Willy Russell (Modern Classics)

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Zara is a sassy paralegal who is not afraid to speak her mind or take risky moves in her line of duty. She has a weak spot for the handsome Ryker. Zara is committed to her work during the day, but out of the office, she is having an affair with Ryker. These two have been hooking up casually whenever Ryker is in town, but things are getting serious as feelings develop, and the two cannot keep their hands from each other. While there is no much relationship building in the book since these two have been having some fun between the sheets since the beginning of the book, a few things have changed. The fact that Ryker is now based in town makes Zara question their causal relationship and her readiness to take things to the next level. Zara will soon realize that her indecision will not affect Ryker’s feelings for her, and this alpha male will be sweeping her off her feet. However, as the two start to see more of each other, Zara realizes that Ryker has deep secrets that he is not willing to share with anyone. I know I have seen a production of this in my teens - a short, but powerful read. I think with the right group and in the right school this could be a great text for AQA English Literature Paper 2. There is some great method in the foreshadowing and superstition that runs through the action. Clearly, there is an opportunity to look at class and the idea of nature vs nurture. I don't really read a lot of plays/musicals and if I do read them, they aren't usually in this genre. But during my GCSEs, this was one of the plays selected for me to study for my exams- so basically I was forced to read this. However, I was surprised that I did enjoy this a little. This is one man's story about living and working in that tiny state along the Mediterranean. It's also a story not too often heard in Christian/Evangelical circles. For me it added realism and a much needed balance in sympathy for both Israel and the Palestinians. It also made me realise the strange and questionable role the West played in founding the state of Israel and looking the other way when oppression got nasty. In 2000, Russell published his first novel, The Wrong Boy. In epistolary form, main character Raymond Marks, a 19-year old from Manchester, tells the story of his life in letters to his hero Morrissey.

Before reading this book I thought I had quite a balanced view on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After reading this book I see how I also fell victim to the Israel-as-hero story. No, I didn't approve everything Israel does, especially the last decades, and yes, I did feel that the rights of Arabs needed to be more taken into consideration. But at the same time I had this feeling of the Israeli state as being inherently good. They make mistakes, agreed, but aren't they all just well meaning people? Douglas Mayo has had a life long love affair with musical theatre. He has authored several books on publicity and marketing for amateur theatre groups. The superb score includes Bright New Day, Marilyn Monroe and the emotionally charged hit Tell Me It’s Not True. The cast of the Blood Brothers 2022 Tour.Russell has written songs since the early 1960s, and has written the music to most of his plays and musicals. He also co-wrote "The Show", the theme song to the 1985 ITV drama series Connie, which became a top 30 hit for vocalist Rebecca Storm. His first album, Hoovering the Moon, was released in 2003. As a child, Elias Chacour lived in a small Palestinian village in Galilee. The townspeople were proud of their ancient Christian heritage and lived at peace with their Jewish neighbors. But early in 1947, their idyllic lifestyle was swept away as tens of thousands of Palestinians were killed and nearly one million forced into refugee camps. In the midst of all the conflict between the Arabs and the Jews, God called upon Elias to help bring peace to the two groups. He attends various schools in an effort to make this peace. Jews and Palestinians in Israel. The book is about how Jews and Arabs are, in fact, blood brothers and should treat each other as such.

Thanks mister Chacour for broadening, and changing, my perspective with your personal story. Thanks for emphasising the importance of a balanced stand against violence from all sides and thanks for reigniting a tiny glimmer of hope for peace when people who follow Jesus aim to be spokespeople for reconciliation.

Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi-award-winning Blood Brothers. Bill Kenwright’s production surpassed 10,000 performances in London’s West End, one of only three musicals ever to achieve that milestone. It has been affectionately christened the ‘Standing Ovation Musical’, as inevitably it “brings the audience cheering to its feet and roaring its approval” (The Daily Mail).