Mini Review: Curtain Up

Title: Curtain Up aka Theatre Shoes

Author: Noel Streatfield

Publisher: Random House

Where I Bought This Book: At the Student’s Service Centre in Batu Pahat, Johore, in 1979! My edition is, IIRC, published by Dolphin Books. The cover is red and shows a backstage scene.

Main Characters:
1. Sorrel
2. Mark
3. Holly

What It’s All About: It’s the Second World War and the Forbes children receive word that their father, a sailor with the Royal Navy, is missing in action. They are sent to live with their maternal grandmother who is head of a famous theatrical family. Sorrel, Mark and Holly are expected to be talented and are enrolled in a school for dramatic arts, incidentally the same school that the Fossil children attend in Ballet Shoes. The book describes the children’s life with their grandmother, how they adjust to their new school, how they interact with their cousins, and how they take to being part of a theatrical family and cope with their own talent.

What I like About It: I like that we get a peek at how things are with the Fossils (the Forbes receive scholarships from Pauline, Petrova and Posy Fossil, and communicate with them through letters). I also really enjoy reading about “Grandmother” who is this fascinating and rather domineering, larger-than-life character. Best of all are the detailed descriptions of the children's school, dress rehearsals and performances. And I love the way Sorrel develops and blossoms as an actress.

Other Books I’ve Read by the Same Author: See My Favourite Streatfields.

If You Like The Sound of this Book, You Should Also Check Out These Titles:
1. Ballet Shoes, also by NS
2. Lorna Hill's ballet books

Name of Reviewer: Daphne Lee

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Comments

[Ann (from Girlsown)]

I also love Curtain Up! I like Sorrel, one of the rare portrayals of a genuinely nice girl who is also convincingly good as an actress; and also like the portrayal of the prima donna grandmother!

My ten favourite Streatfields are Ballet Shoes, Curtain Up, The Painted Garden, A Vicarage Family, White Boots, The Bell Family, New Town, Party Frock, Grand-Nannie, and The Children on the Top Floor.

I agree that the American 'Shoes' theme is a bit annoying - there is no such thing as special 'movie shoes' for example!