Skulls and fake blood and foam swords,
“there are no small parts, only small players”
The play’s the thing!
Dad says wanting to act is just a phase, so the sixth grade play is Noah’s big chance to be on stage! Oh no – the drama teacher is out so the PE coach will direct themā¦ in Hamlet?
Luckily, an older Jewish guy named Mike volunteers to help because strange things are happening while Coach Fig spends rehearsals on his phone!
The “No-Trauma Drama” script now has its original gruesome ending, the costumes and sets are way better than previous years’ Hamlet, and a cold breeze drifts backstage when all the doors are closed.
Despite not being cast as Hamlet, Noah is enjoying play practice and Mike’s interesting adviceā¦ and watching Mike vanish into thin air – is their guest director a ghost?
Noah’s college professor parents are arguing again about which subjects are more important – why is Dad the physics teacher so angry about literature?
Shakespeare’s Hamlet is way more interesting than the family-friendly version written by the lady who donated the school’s nice theater – can they do the real one without interference?
Suddenly, their drama club one-night-only performance is the hot ticket in their New York town – break a leg!
Conversing with someone long gone – yes or no?
**kmm
Book info: Noah McNichol and the Backstage Ghost / Martha Freeman. Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2021. [author site] [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.