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Original poster

Any Noel Streatfeild fans here?

212 replies

JFDIYOLO · 06/10/2023 14:59

I love her books about children on stage, at Madame Fidolia's Academy - have done since I was very young and Mum first handed me Ballet Shoes and The Painted Garden.

💓💓💓💓💓

OP posts:
MargaretThursday · 18/09/2024 19:16

I used to have the video of the 70s version. Madam Edith from 'Allo 'Allo was Madame Fidola and absolutely beautiful at the part.

The children were younger than the more recent version, which worked better for the whole thing. It was dated in the typical BBC Sunday serial way, but stuck to the story nicely. I think my main complaint would be it should have been longer!
Edited to say:
It's on Youtube

Original poster
JFDIYOLO · 18/09/2024 18:40

Recently partner bought me the 70s video adaptation of Ballet Shoes - although there were changes, SO much better than the vague Emma Watson version.

Their Madame Fidolia was perfect. Elegant and austere.

And I'm enraged to see that at the National Theatre production she's going to be played by A MAN. For fuck sake. Another strong older female character given to a bloke.

OP posts:
WWGD · 18/09/2024 15:59

I actually liked the Emma Watson version [ducks]

SorrelForbes · 18/09/2024 15:17

I've booked for me and eldest kid to go to the matinee on 18 December. I'm keeping everything crossed that it stays true to the book (and not simplify and dumb down like the Emma Watson BBC version!)

WWGD · 18/09/2024 15:01

@MrsMitford3 Alma Mater. The playwright is called Kendall Feaver. I think she is Australian.

MrsMitford3 · 18/09/2024 14:53

EmpressaurusOfCats · 18/09/2024 14:52

I saw the posters - I’ll be really interested to see the reviews.

Yes that's the problem-I'd like to see reviews before booking...

MrsMitford3 · 18/09/2024 14:52

Oh I am now wondering if DD and I don't go at Christmas-my initial excitement was tempered by concern about the adaptation and decided it would annoy me too much and the fear that I would stand up in the middle of the play and correct them is real.

Has it actually opened?

@WWGD Out of interest what was the other play?

EmpressaurusOfCats · 18/09/2024 14:52

I saw the posters - I’ll be really interested to see the reviews.

WWGD · 18/09/2024 14:47

I actually saw another play earlier this year by the person who has adapted Ballet Shoes for stage and it was so good that I would see anything she had written which fills me with hope for Ballet Shoes.

CurlewKate · 18/09/2024 13:45

@WWGD "Yes, me! Just booked tickets for Ballet Shoes this Christmas too at the National Theatre."

Me too! Adult dd and I are looking forward to it sooo much!!

WWGD · 18/09/2024 12:44

Yes, me! Just booked tickets for Ballet Shoes this Christmas too at the National Theatre.

ValuableLimeLesson · 26/10/2023 13:09

The renaming even ruined that lovely moment in You've Got Mail where Kathleen's recommending Ballet Shoes through her tears - I just get so cross when she starts wanging on about Skating Shoes and Theatre Shoes!

sueelleker · 26/10/2023 08:11

RaeHitsEbSire · 25/10/2023 19:19

Oh, you really should, Dorrit. You can get the more common Armada editions quite cheaply - and see if you get hooked enough to buy the expensive unabridged/rarer ones!

Show quote history

Some of them are available free here, on fadedpage.com https://www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php?author=Brent-Dyer,%20Elinor%20Mary You can read them for free, or download them.

Search: fadedpage.com

https://www.fadedpage.com/csearch.php?author=Brent-Dyer%2C+Elinor+Mary

LydiaGwilt · 25/10/2023 19:20

Sky Arts is on Freeview - you don't need to have a subscription. Worth keeping an eye on - they've had some very good book programmes.

RaeHitsEbSire · 25/10/2023 19:19

DorritLittle · 25/10/2023 19:16

I’ve never even read the Chalet School books (I know) and that has really bothered me!

Show quote history

Oh, you really should, Dorrit. You can get the more common Armada editions quite cheaply - and see if you get hooked enough to buy the expensive unabridged/rarer ones!

Notellinganyone · 25/10/2023 19:18

@DorritLittle - I couldn’t agree more. It’s so lazy.

DorritLittle · 25/10/2023 19:16

MargaretThursday · 24/10/2023 18:53

I dislike the renaming too. I think "White boots" makes far more sense than "Skating shoes" and still looks like they go together, for example, and "Theatre shoes" makes no sense at all!

Although my all time dislike of changed titles was when I finished reading "Lavender Leigh at the Chalet School" and I commented to someone that the title would have been far better as "Lavender laughs in the Chalet School". (Lavender is a new girl at the Chalet School, whose aunt is famous for writing a series of travel books called "Lavender Laughs series" so the books are titled things like "Lavender Laughs in Germany" etc)
Person looked at me very strangely and asked didn't I know that was the original title. Why anyone would think the new title was better than the old-and it's not like it's really dated either-is beyond me!

I’ve never even read the Chalet School books (I know) and that has really bothered me!

DorritLittle · 25/10/2023 19:14

The shoes thing is utterly ridiculous, IMO. The Curtain Up renaming particularly bothers me (just googled ‘theatre shoes’ and a lot of crocs appeared) and ‘skating shoes’ doesn’t even make sense as they are (white) boots.

ElephantGrey101 · 25/10/2023 19:10

There is a series on sky arts called Wonderlands which features Noel Streatfield along with other classic authors. It’s worth a watch if anyone has sky.

Peregrina · 24/10/2023 20:05

I dislike the renaming too. I think "White boots" makes far more sense than "Skating shoes" and still looks like they go together, for example, and "Theatre shoes" makes no sense at all!

There were matching party shoes or slippers in Party Frock but changing Apple Bough to Travelling Shoes is nonsense. The only shoes which travel are the ones on people's feet.

RaeHitsEbSire · 24/10/2023 19:38

MargaretThursday · 24/10/2023 18:53

I dislike the renaming too. I think "White boots" makes far more sense than "Skating shoes" and still looks like they go together, for example, and "Theatre shoes" makes no sense at all!

Although my all time dislike of changed titles was when I finished reading "Lavender Leigh at the Chalet School" and I commented to someone that the title would have been far better as "Lavender laughs in the Chalet School". (Lavender is a new girl at the Chalet School, whose aunt is famous for writing a series of travel books called "Lavender Laughs series" so the books are titled things like "Lavender Laughs in Germany" etc)
Person looked at me very strangely and asked didn't I know that was the original title. Why anyone would think the new title was better than the old-and it's not like it's really dated either-is beyond me!

My copy of Lavender is regrettably the 'Leigh' edition but I knew what it should be called from that list of alterations and abridgements that used to be online.

No idea why it was changed when the 'Laughs' books were such a key part of her character.

MargaretThursday · 24/10/2023 18:53

I dislike the renaming too. I think "White boots" makes far more sense than "Skating shoes" and still looks like they go together, for example, and "Theatre shoes" makes no sense at all!

Although my all time dislike of changed titles was when I finished reading "Lavender Leigh at the Chalet School" and I commented to someone that the title would have been far better as "Lavender laughs in the Chalet School". (Lavender is a new girl at the Chalet School, whose aunt is famous for writing a series of travel books called "Lavender Laughs series" so the books are titled things like "Lavender Laughs in Germany" etc)
Person looked at me very strangely and asked didn't I know that was the original title. Why anyone would think the new title was better than the old-and it's not like it's really dated either-is beyond me!

bookEnthusiast · 24/10/2023 18:43

Thank you - I think they renamed them for US marketing reasons - thinking it would look good to have them as some form of series (even though the vast majority have no reference to any other!) - a bit crass and one of the reasons I collect first editions - you get them as the author intended!

Peregrina · 24/10/2023 17:46

I loved Apple Bough, but my all time favourite of hers was Party Frock.
I do wish they hadn't renamed them.

Just browsing your website now. I had no idea she had written so many books.

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