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The Eighteenth Century -- The Theatre
In Danger in the Wings, Geoffrey Trease returns to a subject he has dealt with very successfully in the past in such books as Cue for Treason and The Popinjay Mystery - the theatre.
Daniel Carnaby is the son of a Boston merchant. His main interest in life is the theatre. He plucks up his courage and tells his father that he wants to become a play-actor. Rather to his surprise his father agrees that he should give it a try. There are very few theatres in the American colonies so Daniel sails on one of his father's ships to England to learn his chosen trade. He is fortunate to be able to join a theatre in Bath. He gains valuable experience and then transfers to Drury Lane.
Daniel is totally immersed in his new career but he does hear snippets of news from across the Atlantic. Lexington. Bunker Hill. The Declaration of Independence.
War news is not usually discussed in the dressing room except on a few occasions like the time when an English spy is hanged. This gives someone an idea. Daniel has been making progress and gaining bigger and more important parts. He has made one enemy - a jealous actor known as Digby. Digby denounces Daniel as an American spy and he is arrested by two constables - but Daniel has a rather unexpected helper - a spirited young actress.
Danger in the Wings is a carefully researched book with much interesting information about the original Bath Theatre Royal, and also the history of the London theatre in Drury Lane. Such characters as Sarah Siddons, Sheridan and Garrick, Dr Johnson and Boswell flit across the pages. Many less famous characters are also taken from life.
Once again Geoffrey Trease has woven much historical detail into an engrossing story.
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