Plot
Using her charm and self-confidence and a connection provided by her older cousin Michael, Rebecca is able to get herself and her cousin Ana a gig working at a Broadway theater--sort of. They play the parts of farm workers at a themed restaurant that holds dinner theater. But Rebecca's thrilled with this because she ends up being tasked with taking a daily glass of fresh milk to Olivia "Ollie" Barry, an up and coming actress (who Rebecca's boss thinks is a diva).
During rehearsals, Ollie starts finding herself in untenable situations. It really seems like someone is out to at least sabotage her career, if not actually hurt her. Rebecca and Ana are able to investigate pretty well, having access to a lot of behind-the-scenes areas. Who could it be? Rebecca and Ana's boss, who seems jealous of Ollie not only for her stardom but for dating her ex? The play's director, who's always short with her? For a while, Rebecca and Ana are even suspects, when Ollie is given milk tainted with rat poison.
After a few false leads and some lucky breaks, Rebecca realizes the real culprit: Mr. O'Hara, the set painter Michael was hired to help. He's known Ollie for years, and knows her secret. They're both Irish immigrants, but Ollie has worked hard to suppress her accent to avoid the prejudice so many in the 1920s have against the Irish. O'Hara wants to keep Ollie from catching too big of a break, believing that if she remembers her roots she'll fall in love with him. Never mind that she's already in a serious relationship! Still perfectly fine to endanger her because you pine for her. (sarcasm)
Using her charm and self-confidence and a connection provided by her older cousin Michael, Rebecca is able to get herself and her cousin Ana a gig working at a Broadway theater--sort of. They play the parts of farm workers at a themed restaurant that holds dinner theater. But Rebecca's thrilled with this because she ends up being tasked with taking a daily glass of fresh milk to Olivia "Ollie" Barry, an up and coming actress (who Rebecca's boss thinks is a diva).
During rehearsals, Ollie starts finding herself in untenable situations. It really seems like someone is out to at least sabotage her career, if not actually hurt her. Rebecca and Ana are able to investigate pretty well, having access to a lot of behind-the-scenes areas. Who could it be? Rebecca and Ana's boss, who seems jealous of Ollie not only for her stardom but for dating her ex? The play's director, who's always short with her? For a while, Rebecca and Ana are even suspects, when Ollie is given milk tainted with rat poison.
After a few false leads and some lucky breaks, Rebecca realizes the real culprit: Mr. O'Hara, the set painter Michael was hired to help. He's known Ollie for years, and knows her secret. They're both Irish immigrants, but Ollie has worked hard to suppress her accent to avoid the prejudice so many in the 1920s have against the Irish. O'Hara wants to keep Ollie from catching too big of a break, believing that if she remembers her roots she'll fall in love with him. Never mind that she's already in a serious relationship! Still perfectly fine to endanger her because you pine for her. (sarcasm)
Misc
Dedicated to "Lucia and all who love the stage."
I like that the book touches on Rebecca and Ana feeling conflicted over working on the Sabbath, especially because their Sabbath is different from the majority's (Saturday vs Sunday). There's discussion of the religious observance vs practicality. Rebecca's father keeps his shoe store open on Saturdays because he can't afford to lose the business he'll do that day.
In a book about racial, ethnic, and national stereotypes, I was a little disappointed to see the main Irish character drinking on the job, and the Jewish theater owner being stingy.
The theater owner's last name is Hammerstein. A reference to Rodgers and Hammerstein?
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