About Me
CONTENDERByMAL POPE © 2005
A Musical based on the life of Tommy FarrIts a sweltering August night in New York City in 1937. In the distance can be heard the crackle of another lightening storm which is threatening to further postpone the main event. The crowd is full of celebrities. From the world of Entertainment, Douglas Fairbanks Senior, George Raft and Al Johnson. Representing Baseball, the legendary Babe Ruth. Former boxing greats Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey rub shoulders with New Your Mayor La Guardia and the Marquess of Queensbury. Also there are the mobsters who control boxing, who control New York itself.Two young men, exactly the same age, stride into the centre of the ring. Both carry the great weight of expectation and aspiration of their respective peoples. Across the States, African Americans are gathered around their radio sets to cheer on Joe Louis. The Brown Bomber is the grandson of an Alabama slave. In the USA boxing has long been the domain of white athletes. Once again he has to prove to himself and the rest of the nation that he is the best in the world.All over Britain people meet in the middle of the night to support Tommy Farr. Tommy is the son of an Irish bare knuckle fighter who had been attracted to Wales by the mines. One boxing expert has given Tommy as much chance of beating Louis as Shirley Temple! Tommy has chosen to risk losing his life in the free air rather than die like so many of his friends have whilst mining underground. As his mentor Joby Churchill said, Whats the difference between murder above ground as below it. Many homes have families huddled around crystal sets, others have banded together in Clubs, singing and dancing until the moment arrives and the room grows silent.ACT1 SCENE 1
(Music - CD Track 1 Opening Scene the Fight)The Sound of Gladiators entering the arena. The solo trumpet summons the fighters. The last minute of original commentary from the fight paints a scene where Tommy Farr is all over the champ, Joe Louis. It sounds like a great British victory. As the bell sounds for the end of the fight, the ring is engulfed by well wishes, hangers on and police who try to restore order.In Wales miners are gathered around radio sets listening to this first transatlantic sporting broadcast. They jump up punching the air in triumph at an obvious Farr win.The music fades as the announcer says the referee has gathered up the score cards. (We dont hear the verdict!)ONE MOMENT IN TIMEFor Tommy Farr, the Joe Louis fight at Yankee Stadium was a defining moment but to understand the man we must understand his background. What where the circumstances that made this average young boxer into the British and Empire Champion and World Title Contender.AN OVERVIEW OF ACT 1Contender tells the story of the Boxing legend Tommy Farr. Tommy lost his mother as a young child. His father had shown little interest in his children until that moment, only giving his undivided attention when it came to matters of discipline and punishment. The strain of being a single parent led to a seizure and Tommys father remain paralysed until he died. As Tommy said, after his mother died, his father a man of steel, rusted in front of their eyes. Tommys father always taught Tommy that he would only get out of life what he could take with his own 2 hands. It was a lesson he took to heart and never forgot. At his fathers funeral he vows that what happened to Tommys father and family will never happen to him.Tommy and his family struggled to make ends meet and he took on the responsibilities of a man very early. His rage at the world spilled over into everyday life. He fought everywhere and his early lessons came from the pit boxing, which was popular at the time. Two holes where dug, waist deep, about a foot apart. Colliery boys stood there and fought whilst other miners bet on the outcome. With nowhere to run he learnt to duck, dive and take a punch. He also learnt that the real money was made by those who stayed outside of the fight. There was no mercy to be found here but one thing was sure Tommy would never give up and he would never cry.When his father died Tommy became a bit of a tearaway and decided he would turn his rage into money by becoming a boxer. He wasnt very good, losing many of his early fights. No one doubted his courage but too often he wanted to fight instead of box. It was at this point in his life that he met the man who was to become his mentor. Joby Churchill had been quite a good fighter in his time. He had lost a leg in a mining accident and had since become a saddler in Tonypandy. He had trained a number of champions and that was the reason Tommy went to Joby to ask him to teach him how to box.Joby instantly took a shine to Tommy but instead of putting him in the ring he gave him books to read, saying that boxing wasnt only about fists, it was about the head and heart. Don Quixote became a favourite with Tommy seeing himself as Sancho Panza to Jobys Don Quixote.The first part of the apprenticeship was the travelling boxing booths. Initially, Tommy is turned down because he is too small. He is offered the job of a handyman but when a knife slices through the booth tarpaulin as one big miner tries to avoid paying the entrance fee Tommy takes on the role of bouncer, knocking the much larger man out. He is immediately given the job of in house pugilist.Tommy soon tires of the relentless graft and tells Joby hes now ready. Joby disagrees and after a falling out Tommy decides to walk to London to break into the fight game on his own. He is unsuccessful and one of his vivid memories is watching the great and good through a side window of the Savoy hotel. He vows that one day he will eat what they eat and live as they do. Returning to Tonypandy Tommy makes his peace with Joby. Joby tells him he has learnt an invaluable lesson and now they can startMUSIC THE CONTENDERThe song charts the rise of Tommy from losing his early fights to becoming British Champion. (Duet between Tommy Farr and Joby Churchill.)After winning the title Tommy is matched against German heavyweight Neusel. He is given little chance of victory. Neusel is a favourite of the Hitler and he is supported at the fight by Ambassador Von Ribbentrop. The announcements at Haringey are made in English, German and Welsh!! Tommy knocks out the German and looks down to see Von Ribbentrops seat already empty.Again Tommy and Joby clash as Tommy is offered a chance to go to New York and fight Joe Louis for the title. Joby urges caution, headstrong Tommy catches the Queen Mary. On the way he meets and falls in love with Debutant Carol Montgomery or Monty as he calls her. She is a nonchalant, woman of the world, but surprises herself but being somewhat impressed with this prize-fighter. At one of the evening gatherings Monty is amazed at Tommys dancing ability. He tells her he learnt the moves at the 4d dance in Tonypandy!!MUSIC HAPPY AM IHappy Am I WaltzHappy Am I DuetThe
As the Cruise Liners orchestra finish, Tommy and Monty suddenly aware of the moment, are frightened of their feelings. Tommy and Monty sing to each other. They come from very different worlds. It seems too good to be true.Tommy settles into New York life and is given a bodyguard, Jerry The Gunman Cassales. He trains in Long Branch 50 miles outside New York. Its a town with a Welsh Mayor who organises for a group of miners to come from Wales to encourage him. The training is not going well so he has to send for Joby Churchill. When Joby arrives he is an instant hit with his earthy wisdom. New York Columnist Dan Parker describes him as being like the old man of the sea or a character from a Dickens novel.Finally the big fight arrives. Gathered around their radios are miners in Wales and African Americans in Harlem. This is the moment Tommy has dreamed of all his life. The referee walks over to Tommy. Joby shouts to Tommy that hes won. This time we hear the result and when Joe Louis is announced as champion the stadium erupts into boos and cries of derision. The miners joy turns to tears, Harlem erupts.
END OF ACT 1ACT 2Tommy is taken to the heart of New York Life. Monty is worried that hes getting carried away with it all. He is a regular guest at the Cotton Club where the great and good mix with the Mafia bosses. An approach is made to Tommy to throw a fight.MUSIC Whos the StarSong based on Cab Calloway, who played the Cotton Club, showing Tommys standing and the people who now want a piece of him, first Mafia reference. (The lyrics are all drawn from Callaways Hipsters dictionary. There is a place for the theatre audience to become involve in the Minnie the Moocher part).Joby Churchill sends a telegram in Welsh saying come home you Bloody fool. He has seen through the system and realises Tommy can never beat the Americans on home turf. By returning to the UK Tommy will be in the driving seat again. As usual Tommy thinks he knows best. He is having far too good a time being a star.Together with Monty, Tommy travels to Hollywood. He loses his temper over a phone call. The man on the other end says hes Clarke Gable. Tommy thinks hes being made to look a fool. Monty says, this is Hollywood, why wouldnt it be Clarke Gable. Tommy mixes with the Hollywood crowd, singing with Bing Crosby and playing golf with James Cagney.Tommy gets the call to return to New York to fightWhen he returns to New York there are more serious Mafia overtures. He is told to play the game, make lots of money and lose the next fight or be prepared to lose anyway. Monty encourages him saying shell love him if hes a champion or not. There is no Joby Churchill in his corner. Joby is back in Tonypandy listening on the radio. He goes ahead with 2 fights only to lose on outrageous decisions. Feeling he cant beat the system he goes home to Britain.Tommy returns to Britain a star. He even makes a record with George Formby! He is intent on continuing with his career but all that is stopped when war is declared. Tommy is declared unfit for active duty due to a number of boxing injuries but he does travel the country doing exhibitions. After the war he settles down, marries Monty and becomes the doting father of 3 children. As one business venture after another goes wrong he sinks into despair remembering the poverty of his childhood and the fear returns that what happened then might be about to happen to his family.He keeps telling Monty he could beat any of the British Heavyweights around. Exasperated she tells him to either get back in the ring or just shut up about it. His first call is to Joby Churchill. He is told old boxers never come back but hell still be there for him. Tommy goes into training and starts from the bottom again. He has tremendous support with up to 20,000 people turning up at Ninian Park to see him fight.He is given a shot at the Welsh Heavyweight title, a title he had won 15 years previously. At the end of a great fight he is pronounced champion. Tommy takes the microphone from the announcer and leads the packed crowd in a rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau.
So ends the rise and fall, and rise again of one of the most famous British Boxers of the last century; the peoples champion Tommy Farr.
