I am thrilled to bring you my review today as part of the blog tour with Rachel’s Random Resources. I must apologise as I am running a day late but I am here now! Thank you to Rachel Gilbey and Patsy Trench for the gifted copy of the book to take part today. All opinions and views are my own and in no way biased. First, the synopsis.
London, 1905. A show. A stuttering romance. Two squabbling actresses.
Is it Shakespeare? Is it Vaudeville?
Not quite. It is Mrs Morphett’s Macaroons, a satirical play about suffragettes which its creators – friends and would-be lovers Robbie Robinson and Violet Graham – are preparing to mount in London’s West End.
It is the play rival actresses Merry and Gaye would kill to be in, if only they hadn’t insulted the producer all those years ago.
For Robbie and Violet however the road to West End glory is not smooth. There are backers to be appeased, actors to be tamed and a theatre to be found; and in the midst of it all a budding romance that risks being undermined by professional differences.
Never mix business with pleasure?
Maybe, maybe not.
A delightful light and very entertaining read. Set in Edwardian England, which I particularly enjoyed as I love anything historical. Patsy Trench has brought the era to life with her vivid detailing and descriptions. I was taken right back in time and was thoroughly immersed in this book straight away.
The setting of a stage play that is called the fabulous name of Mrs Morphetts Macaroons in a rather small West End stage is fabulous.
We are introduced to some wonderful characters. The debut theatre producer, Mrs Violet Graham, and her would be suitor (or lover as the synopsis states), Robbie Robinson, are determined to get this play up and running. Both are well drawn, and I did warm to these almost straight away.
This is such a funny story that manages to deal with a serious subject in such a unique way. I thought Patsy Trench handled it well and even gave us some historical facts throughout. Her experience in theatre shines through with the information and knowledge she has woven so expertly into the plotline.
The drama from actresses is apparent here, too. We see two rival actresses who want to lead Violets play, but seeing as they were nasty to Violet when she was a junior member of staff, they know its not going to fly…at all!
All the drama and the tears are all in Mrs Morphetts Macaroons, and there is also some romance for good measure. It’s a great book to get cosy with on an evening. I may have to check out some other books by Patsy Trench when I can.
Purchase Link https://mybook.to/MrsMorphett
Author Bio
Patsy Trench has spent her life working in the theatre. She was an actress for twenty years in theatre and television in the UK and Australia. She has written scripts for stage and (TV) screen and co-founded The Children’s Musical Theatre of London, creating original musicals with primary school children. She is the author of three non fiction books about colonial Australia based on her own family history and four novels about women breaking the mould in times past. Mrs Morphett’s Macaroons is book four in her ‘Modern Women: Entertaining Edwardians’ series and is set in the world she knows and loves best. When she is not writing books she teaches theatre part-time and organises theatre trips for overseas students.
She lives in London. She has two children and so far one grandson.
Social Media Links
Facebook: PatsyTrenchWriting
Twitter: @PatsyTrench
Instagram: claudiafaraday1920
Website: https://patsytrench.com
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