End of Term query

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I was named after Nicola Marlow, and very pleased I was too when I read the books at around 10-12. I always identified with Nicola because of our shared name and because she was what I wanted to be and wasn't--confident and competent at games--and was--a tomboy, but obsessed with the RAF instead of the Navy. :-)

This year I decided to read all the books I can lay my hands on, and I'm enchanted and very impressed by their quality, depth, and understanding of teenagers. I think I've sorted out ages and terms thanks to this great comm, but I have a question.

I've just finished 'End of Term', which I don't think I've read before. The only bit that doesn't make sense to me is why Nicola is chosen for the Shepherd Boy by Keith. She bases her casting decisions on character (and possibly looks and size) rather than ability, so why does she choose Nicola when Nicola, as far as she knows, has been so unreliable at turning up for netball practices she was excluded from the team? Lawrie on the other hand has done nothing to upset authority, and doesn't already have an important role. OK, I know it was for Plot Reasons, but is there an explanation I can accept? It's so illogical to pick the best soloist they have for the shepherd boy and not the best actor.

Comments

[ex-lizzzar998.livejournal.com]

This is a re-write of a previous post. I'm not certain why Nicola is chosen rather than Lawrie, but I'm not sure that Lawrie's comparative immaturity is completely plausible as an explanation as her significant talent as an actress seems pretty much agreed,including by Miss Kempe. The play was originally cast on character not talent, though, and Miss Keith may be trying to make a clumsy point in character formation. It is true that she did not directly re-move Nicola from the netball team, but most likely knew and approved of it ( it goes on Nicola's permanent record as "over-confidence" in Attic Term). Possibly she feels that Marlow over-confidence is a bit of a problem (in her Miss Keith way) and that both Nicola (the netball team) and Lawrie ( the play) not getting what they really want will be good for their characters. Maybe this is harsh on Miss Keith, but AF does seem continuely sceptical of her manipulations (as are Nicola and Rowan). It is a relief when a bit of Christmas luck sorts it all out (despite the glorious row ).

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Blood at Breakfast!

I can believe she'd do that to Lawrie, but I'm still surprised she picked Nicola, given the netball team unreliability and her being a soloist. I know she had to for Plot, but surely there were others of Good Character could be nobbled on the night. Still, it made for lots of Nicola angst because she wasn't as good as Lawrie and was disliked so much by Tim for it.

And I'm sure the joy of the play made up for the glorious row!

[geebengrrl.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmm, I also wonder if, since Miss Keith thinks of the play as an 'act of worship', perhaps she thinks that someone who's too good an actor will distract from the religious aspects? If she puts Lawrie in, it's a play, not a ceremony.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Interesting thought!