The Spectacular

The narrative shifts to October 1956. Marion Brooks is teaching a class of young, rambunctious ballerinas, opting to give them freestyle dance time instead of disciplining them firmly. After her class, Marion runs into several other dancers who discuss auditioning for the Rockettes. One among them, Vanessa, speaks confidently about auditioning. The other dancers encourage Marion to audition, but Marion knows that her father, Simon, will strongly disapprove. Marion recalls an incident when Simon prevented her from auditioning for the American Ballet Academy. Simon strongly believes that women should either get married or work in a profession that will provide a steady income, such as teaching, nursing, or administrative work.

Miss Beaumont, the stern head of the dance school, reprimands Marion for her lack of discipline and fires her. At home in Bronxville, Marion’s sister, Judy, asks why Marion looks morose, but Marion hesitates to confide in her sister. Once close, the sisters have grown apart over the years. Marion is more creative, social, and outgoing, while Judy prefers organization and structure and focuses on her job as Simon’s secretary. Others consider Marion physically attractive, while Judy is less so. Judy supported Marion emotionally in childhood after the sudden death of their mother, Lucille. As a single father, Simon created a comfortable life for his daughters, but he lacks a consoling nature. Judy and Marion were inseparable as children but eventually developed very different personalities.

Mrs. Hornsby, the family’s caretaker, offers maternal support for the young women, though she intends to retire in several months. She announces dinner. Simon appears with Nathaniel, Marion’s boyfriend, and Marion divulges her unemployment. Later, Marion asks Nathaniel to take her to dinner, wanting to distract herself and hear about his European tour. Nathaniel declines, telling Marion that he must travel to Florida. Although Nathaniel and Marion have dated for three years, Nathaniel was away at college or in Europe for much of that time. They have spent very little time in each other’s presence. Judy reveals that Nathaniel plans to propose to Marion, ruining the surprise. She also lets slip that Nathaniel is traveling to Florida to retrieve his grandmother’s engagement ring. Marion feels as if her life plan is quickly slipping from her control. She strongly dislikes the idea of permanently retiring from dance, noting that teaching or taking classes is “part of her identity” (20). Simon patronizes Marion, stating that Lucille happily disregarded her professional acting career to raise Marion and Judy, and he now expects Marion to follow a similar path. Nathaniel promises to take Marion dancing once per week, but Marion feels misunderstood and highly frustrated.

At dinner, Marion considers the work she must do to plan a wedding. She confesses to Simon and Judy that she feels overwhelmed. Simon tells Marion stories about how he and Lucille met and about their wedding. Later in the novel, Marion will learn that Simon leaves out essential details about Lucille while retelling their engagement and wedding events. After dinner, Marion looks for Lucille’s wedding dress in the attic. Instead, she finds a box of mementos from Lucille’s brief time working as an actress. Marion discovers that Lucille attended acting school and landed a professional role in a Broadway play. In the past, Simon always described Lucille’s acting career as a hobby, and Marion feels hurt by his dishonesty.

Marion confronts Simon about Lucille’s acting career; Judy is present for the conversation. Simon initially attempts to maintain his dishonesty, but Marion forces him to speak truthfully by revealing Lucille’s acting school schedule and professional Broadway role. Simon confesses that he saw Lucille’s acting ambition as a “dealbreaker” because he wanted his wife to devote herself entirely to childrearing. Although Simon attempts to claim that Lucille chose that life for herself as well, Marion clarifies that Lucille was forced to forfeit her acting job on Broadway when she became pregnant with Judy. Marion scolds Simon for not being honest, which angers him. As punishment, he reclaims Marion’s pearl necklace, which was formerly Lucille’s. Marion retreats to her bedroom. She finds the Rockette’s flyer calling for dancers and decides to audition.

Marion sneaks out of Simon’s house early the following morning and travels to Radio City Music Hall. She encounters Vanessa, and they wait in a long registration line while learning about the strict requirements and limited availability for open positions. A production assistant measures the dancers; several are dismissed for their height. Russell Markert, the Rockettes director, introduces himself and explains the strenuous work schedule and exhausting physical effort that the Rockettes undertake. He provides a brief history of the dance company before leading a rigorous audition. Marion finds the experience draining but fun.

Marion and Vanessa both survive the first round of auditions. They break for lunch, and Vanessa criticizes Marion’s diet. During the afternoon session, Marion realizes that she faces stiffer competition now that the less experienced dancers have been dismissed. Mr. Leonidoff, the show’s producer, introduces himself and explains the Rockettes’ stringent rules: The women must never change their weight or hair color and never get a tan or a sunburn. They must be between 18 and 23 years old. The Rockettes earn $70 per week. Mr. Leonidoff explains that he intends to push the dancers to their physical and mental limits.

Marion learns several combinations rapidly, and she feels shaky with exhaustion as the audition group is whittled down. Eventually, the women must perform a combination alone. Vanessa stumbles during the final kick, but Marion thinks of her mother while she dances, imagining how elated Lucille must have felt upon being cast in a Broadway play. At the day’s end, Russell calls out Marion’s audition number, offering her a position as a Rockette.

Failing to make the final cut, Vanessa blames Marion for her own failure to secure a position. Marion attempts to placate Vanessa but has no luck. Considering Simon, Marion tells Vanessa that she is unsure if she can take the job. A veteran Rockette named Bunny introduces herself to Marion and compliments her dancing. She inquires about Marion’s hesitation to work as a Rockette, and Marion vaguely explains that her home life is complicated.

Bunny takes Marion on a tour of Radio City Music Hall. She shows her the dressing room, and Marion is excited to see the rows of dressing tables adorned with makeup, flowers from admirers, and dancing shoes. Bunny shows Marion the infirmary with a round-the-clock nurse, a dormitory where the dancers can nap or sleep overnight if necessary, and the cafeteria on the bottom floor. Bunny speaks highly of her managers, explaining that she feels well cared for at Radio City. Again, Bunny compliments Marion’s exquisite dancing and asks why she might refuse the role. Marion tells Bunny about Simon, but Bunny insists that Simon will change his mind about dancing when he sees Marion perform with the Rockettes.

At dinner that evening, Marion listens to Simon and Judy talk about work and their colleagues, referencing “dead files” being moved to Simon’s floor in his office building. Simon notices that Marion seems quiet and apologizes for punishing her the previous evening. Still, he insists that he acted for her benefit and advocates that she build a life with Nathaniel and pursue the traditional roles of wife and mother. Marion attempts to tell Simon and Judy about her job as a Rockette, but Mrs. Hornsby interrupts the family dinner by saying goodbye for the evening. Marion realizes she will miss Mrs. Hornsby’s advice when she retires.

The following day, Marion attends a Rockette rehearsal. The new hires train throughout the day while the veteran Rockettes slip in and out for performances. Marion struggles to master the precision of the choreography, sacrificing her creative style to move as one with the group, and Russell points out every flaw. Bunny helps Marion when she can, but Marion fears that she will be dismissed just when she has realized how much she cherishes being a Rockette. Marion accompanies Bunny to the dressing room while Bunny prepares for a show. Bunny reassures Marion that she’ll get the hang of her precision, though she notes that Marion fails to blend in with the other women. Marion confesses that Russell intimidates her, but Bunny reassures her that he is a decent man. Marion lies to Bunny, reporting that Simon is fine with her new job. Marion stays for the final performance and watches Bunny and the other veterans perform a technically complicated dance in perfect unison. She cries at the show's beauty and feels unsure about performing with the Rockettes in a week.

Marion visits Simon and Judy at Met Power (their employer) the following afternoon. She realizes that Judy must feel upset after learning that her birth was the reason for the end of her mother’s acting career. Judy criticizes Marion’s decision to bring up past issues. Simon greets Marion, referring to her as his “beautiful” daughter. Marion knows that he describes Judy as “smart” and never mentions her physical appearance. Simon ushers Marion into his office, and just as Marion begins telling him about her job as a Rockette, two Met Power employees interrupt. They report on the explosion of a bomb in a phone booth outside the New York Public Library. Marion recognizes that this must be the work of the Big Apple Bomber, who has terrorized New York City with pipe bombs for the past 16 years. A few of the bombs are accompanied by a letter addressing the “Met Power crooks,” suggesting that the bomber previously worked for the company. The police have failed to produce a suspect. The letters are signed “F.P.”

Marion waits with Judy while Simon meets with the other executives. She recalls a childhood instance in which Judy joined the math club, and a boy from the group visited Judy at Simon’s house. Judy suddenly and dramatically forced the boy to leave, and when Marion inquired about her sister’s well-being, Judy pushed her into a wall. Now, Simon returns, expressing frustration with the police for failing to catch the Big Apple Bomber. He tells Judy that the police will insist on reviewing all personnel files again. Simon returns to Marion, asking about the nature of her visit. Although Marion attempts to lie, Judy exposes Marion after seeing her Radio City employee badge. Marion stands tall while reporting on her position as a Rockette. Simon dismisses Marion, forbidding her to work as a dancer.