Books with category Theatrical Tales
Displaying 4 books

The Diamond of Drury Lane

2012

by Julia Golding

Set in the 1790's Covent Garden, this book whisks you back to a bygone era, and embarks on an adventure about one hidden treasure, two bare-knuckle boxers, three enemies, and four hundred and thirty-eight rioters.

It is the tale of Catherine "Cat" Royal, an orphan, four foot four with long red hair and not a penny to call her own. She lives in the Theater Royal on Drury Lane, a place filled with dramatic characters, theatrical spectacles, and now, a secret treasure—which Cat has been asked to protect.

Her new friend Pedro, a former slave and gifted violinist, is eager to help, and so is the theater prompter, Jonathan, who is hiding secrets of his own. But when the ruthless gang leader Billy Shepherd learns about the treasure, Cat thinks she's going to lose it for sure. She still doesn't know what the treasure is, so how can she keep it safe from Billy and his gang?

Follow Cat into the streets of London, as she faces danger and adventure, racing to be the first to discover the diamond of Drury Lane!

Theatre

In Theatre, W. Somerset Maugham—the author of the classic novels Of Human Bondage and Up at the Villa—introduces us to Julia Lambert, a woman of breathtaking poise and talent whose looks have stood by her forty-six years. She is a star stage actress in England—so good, in fact, that perhaps she never stops acting.

It seems that nothing can ruffle her satin feathers, until a quiet stranger challenges Julia's very sense of self. As a result, she will endure rejection for the first time, her capacity as a mother will be affronted, and her ability to put on whatever face she desires for her public will prove limited.

In Theatre, Maugham subtly exposes the tensions and triumphs that occur when acting and reality blend together, and—for Julia—ultimately reverse.

Wise Children

1993

by Angela Carter

Dora and Nora Chance are a famous song-and-dance team of the British music halls. Billed as The Lucky Chances, the sisters are the illegitimate and unacknowledged daughters of Sir Melchior Hazard, the greatest Shakespearean actor of his day.

At once ribald and sentimental, glittery and tender, this rambunctious family saga is Angela Carter at her bewitching best. Wise Children celebrates the lore and magic of show business while exploring the connections between parent and child, the transitory and the immortal, authenticity and falsehood.

Expect showgirls and Shakespeare, music, mischief, and mistaken identity – all wrapped in a big, bawdy tangle of theatrical joy and heartbreak.

Amatore's Restaurant

Amatore's Restaurant marks the end of another successful year for the Recreative Theatre Company. The cast gathers at Ristorante Amatore for an end-of-season dinner.


As the evening progresses, each guest recalls a past sexual liaison. These recollections transport us to various locations: from the rolling countryside of Brittany to the brown cafés of Amsterdam, from the grandeur of Venice to the slums of Marseilles.


The stories describe various situations: Prudence relates her encounters on a train journey, and Colin makes a surprising discovery when he settles down to watch his favourite film.


Some characters are driven by self-interest: the sociopath Nicole with her reckless behaviour towards her trusting nephew, and Colette who takes advantage of her unsuspecting tenant. A common theme unfolds: the hidden truths behind the motives for seduction.


As the evening comes to a close, old alliances are re-kindled, new attachments are formed, while others are broken. Frustrations rise to the surface as truths are revealed. For some, the evening is a great success, for others, a disaster.

Are you sure you want to delete this?