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Jump to navigationJump to searchInvisible in a Bright Light by Sally Gardner (view source)
Revision as of 16:41, 3 October 2020
, 16:41, 3 October 2020no edit summary
That may seem rather serious, but do not fear. Life in the theatre is, by its very nature, colourful and exciting, full of sham and special effects, larger-than-life characters and ruthless ambition, and when it comes to opera it seems you can multiply that by ten. In a world inhabited by prima donnas tantrums are the stuff of everyday life, appalling behaviour and utter selfishness the norm, and even the king fades into obscurity when compared to the diva who has stepped in to sing the main part in Massini's new opera. Her lumpish and sulky daughter is no better, and between these two and their demands Celeste has more than enough to cope with, never mind worry about some vague dream of an underwater world and a game she must play without knowing the rules. But little by little she makes progress, despite all the perils and deadly dangers, until at last she understands what she must do and, more scarily, what she is able to achieve.
Once again Ms Gardner has treated us to a must-read story that veers on the edge of spookiness, where things are rarely as they seem and where the price of failure is catastrophe. Another intriguing book about worlds beyond worlds is the classic [[A Stitch in Time by Penelope Lively]]: like this one, it is full of mystery, of people lost and friends found. And don't forget [[The Diamond of Drury Lane by Julia Golding]], also set in a grimy but colourful backstage setting, with yet another heroine charged with completing a task she barely understands. Seriously, it seems that all the biggest dramas happen not on the stage but out of sight, just behind those velvet curtains! We also have a review of Gardner's [[The Double Shadow by Sally Gardner|The Double Shadow]].
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