Great Reads for Great Readers

 

The Empire, by Michael Ball.

 

            British singing star Michael Ball is justly famous for his starring roles in many of the great musical productions of the West End over several decades;  now he tries his hand at authoring a novel about what he loves most:  the English theatre, a particular theatre, and everything connected with it, from the theatre watch dog (Ollie) to the megarich owners – the Lassiters.

            It is 1922;  people are still reeling from the Great War and the world-wide flu epidemic.  They are all trying to recover from their losses, and what better place to start the healing process than the Empire Theatre, a lush, beautiful setting for live performances of every kind, the perfect place to make people forget their troubles for a short time.  The Empire is a true Palace of Dreams, not yet overwhelmed by the Talking Pictures, as yet in their infancy and, when faced with unfair and overwhelming competition designed to bankrupt them by a would-be buyer (he knows a good thing when he sees one!) the enthusiastic and committed staff led by the semi-absent manager’s efficient secretary Grace Hawkins and Jack Treadwell, new doorman and Ollie’s right-hand man, decide to produce a musical of their own.

            Which is an excellent idea, except no-one has a clue how to do so!  But as we all know, a journey starts with the first step:  Grace is wrangled into providing the story and musical lyrics for ‘Riviera Nights’, the adventures of a hotel-owner and his guests on (you guessed it) the Riviera:

 “ ‘I don’t know what to write for her!’

Ruby’s hand strayed around the piano again.  ‘Don’t worry, dear.  It will come.  Glamour – that’s what we want.  And make it funny.  But sad, too, of course!  With the sort of ending that people feel down into their boots.  And real, so it speaks to people’s hearts.  But light.’

‘Is that all?’ 

‘A rags-to-riches story is always good.  And of course, lots and lots of romance.’  Grace groaned.”

Which sums up the plot succinctly,  and Mr Ball’s marvellous characters, some of them endearingly larger than life.  Very few are contemptible and cruel;  even his villain follows a certain code of ethics – up to a point before he orders the blood to flow, but this charming debut novel has all the ingredients previously described and required, and there is just enough mystery at the end to hope that we can expect a sequel.  PLEASE??  FIVE STARS.