Review: The Understudy

Title: The Understudy

Author: Julie Bennett

Publisher: 2nd March 2022 by Simon & Schuster Australia

Pages: 422 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: historical fiction 

My Rating: 4.5 cups

Synopsis:

Immersed in the underbelly of the theatre world in the gritty streets of Sydney in 1973, this addictive debut will have you wondering just how dangerous ambition – and love – can be.

It’s opening night. The stage is set, the houselights have dimmed and the handsome male lead is waiting. This is your time. Your chance to prove you are so much more than the understudy.

You have worked so hard and would have done almost anything to get here. But not what they are accusing you of – never that. It’s simply bad luck that Australia’s darling of opera has gone missing, throwing the spotlight on you just as the whole world is watching history in the making.

But the show must go on and it’s all down to you. Take a deep breath and get ready to perform the role of your life.

My Thoughts

The Understudy is a sensational debut novel by Julie as she offers a drama filled tale from the first ever opening season at the Sydney Opera House in 1973. I quickly found myself engaged and eager to read the journey of the lead character, Sophie as she faces intrigue and drama in this fictional production. This was a time when Australia was growing and reaching out to the world and Julie’s writing captures the times eloquently. 

‘It was fantastic to play opposite him tonight. It might be the only time I ever do, though, I'm just the understudy.' I say it, but I don't want it to be true.’

Lead character, Sophie, is indeed the understudy in this tale and with two days until opening night, the famed lead operatic star Margaret Gardiner disappears. Thus ensues a tale of suspicion, intrigue and drama as people both wonder what happened to Margaret and would Sophie be able to fill her shoes? Indeed, all eyes turn to Sophie as she performs wonderfully well and questions are raised as to her involvement in the disappearance. Matters are compounded when she falls for her Italian leading man, Armando and her triumph may yet quickly turn to tragedy. Julie delivers this mystery marvellously well as she offers a dual time narrative stepping back to 1953 when Margaret Gardiner was a hopeful starting out much like Sophie in 1973. Both were ambitious women yet they begin to question if they have started down a dangerous path? 

‘They say it is not your role, it is Margaret's role. You are Margaret's cover and now that Margaret is not here ... they are recasting the role.' I'm speechless for a moment 'What does that mean? Does it mean I'm not even the understudy anymore?'

Not only is this a wonderful story of passion and ambition, suspicion and tragedy but also Julie likewise opens a window for her readers to see an Australia from the 1950s and 1970s. I loved references pertaining to things such as the concerns over the Sydney Opera House, or the opening by Queen Elizabeth, or the BLF and Sydney Harbour with the fight for Woolloomooloo. Julie gives us all the glamour onstage, all the drama off stage with the turbulent backstreets of Sydney early of the 1970s. 

‘I'll miss the fireworks tonight because I will be preparing to be on stage and so I allow myself the luxury of standing there for just a moment or two … I drink it all in. I am, I realise, witnessing history in the making.’

This is a story that held me captive as I followed Sophie in 1973 and Margaret in 1953 and an emerging country where social expectations were quickly evolving. There were excellent secondary characters with undercurrent subplots that provided great depth to this highly entertaining tale. I frantically turned pages to the very end to see how these two narratives would come to play out. This is a definite book to add to your list as Julie presents a fascinating tale. 

‘The score calls for me to begin singing as I walk out, leading my friends. Oscar gives me a gentle push and I know this is my moment. This will be the first step I take towards becoming the principal I long to become. I project myself forward to a time when I am all I imagine myself to be. I let the moment fill me. Then I draw a deep breath and I begin to sing.’

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.