The Actresses

Sometimes successful, often not, the life of an actress is never dull but what happens when you reach fifty If you're an actor, the work pours in; if you're an actress, suddenly the wrinkles start showing, the boobs sag, that young sprite who's just left college last year is the tops. So it seems, anyhow, to this group of thespians, now all in their fifties, meeting for a drama school reunion. There's Juliet, beautiful, brittle star of the stage, all out for her big screen break; lovely Pauline, a good actress in her own right but often overshadowed by her ebullient actor husband Anthony; blowsy, breezy, sexy soap star Molly; the three wise monkeys Emmy Lou, Franny and dear old Harry; sweet Izzy and gorgeous Terence Blue, Hollywood superstar, heart throb extraordinaire. But age doesn't wipe out desire, ambition or memory. So when the celebrations culminate in an accusation of rape, the past comes flooding back and the present takes extraordinary and unexpected turns.

“Ewing ... weaves a plot as complex as Fair-Isle knitting, darting teasingly between past and present, and fastens off all the threads so that the pattern is satisfyingly complete”

- DAILY TELEGRAPH

'This enjoyable book combines elements of courtroom drama and comedy of manners, as well as sharp insights into the harsher realities of theatrical life - THE TIMES

'Brilliant writing ... a fascinating novel - PRUNELLA SCALES

'A colourful and gripping read - MAUREEN LIPMAN

Barbara Ewing was born and brought up in New Zealand. She is well-known to theatre fans as well as followers of the TV spoof soap ' Brass'. She recently appeared as Mrs. Hardcastle in the bristol Old Vic's production of SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER.

Sometimes successful, often not, the life of an actress is never dull but what happens when you reach fifty If you're an actor, the work pours in; if you're an actress, suddenly the wrinkles start showing, the boobs sag, that young sprite who's just left college last year is the tops. So it seems, anyhow, to this group of thespians, now all in their fifties, meeting for a drama school reunion. There's Juliet, beautiful, brittle star of the stage, all out for her big screen break; lovely Pauline, a good actress in her own right but often overshadowed by her ebullient actor husband Anthony; blowsy, breezy, sexy soap star Molly; the three wise monkeys Emmy Lou, Franny and dear old Harry; sweet Izzy and gorgeous Terence Blue, Hollywood superstar, heart throb extraordinaire. But age doesn't wipe out desire, ambition or memory. So when the celebrations culminate in an accusation of rape, the past comes flooding back and the present takes extraordinary and unexpected turns.

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