Reviewed by Marieke
TITLE: An Actor’s Guide to Romance
AUTHORS: Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 51 pages
RELEASE DATE: January 23, 2018
BLURB:
When long-time theatrical enemies are cast as lovers, their late-night rehearsal brings a whole new meaning to method acting.
For twenty years, Adam Fisher and Thomas Fox have been the best of enemies. From their first meeting at drama school to shared stages, shared bills and a competition to amass the most illustrious awards, they have been the names on every theatregoers’ lips. Separately they can sell out an entire run in an hour, so when they’re cast as lovers in London’s hottest new play, the tickets are gone in minutes.
But for rakish Adam and gentlemanly Thomas, the small matter of their first on-stage kiss is causing a headache for everyone. Over a bottle of wine on one rainy night in the city, these two acting legends will do whatever it takes to banish their first-night nerves. After all, as everyone knows, the show must go on!
REVIEW:
Adam and Thomas have known each other for more than twenty years, and have hated each other just as long. They’re both actors and pretty famous. Mostly they played in different plays and films, but now they have to work together as the two main characters of a romance.
Adam loves to antagonize Thomas, he keeps poking and annoying until one day Thomas has enough. He tries to quit, but the director won’t let him. That’s when he decides to try and bury the hatches…
This short was more of a moment in time than an actual story. The real story of the past and future is more off page. But what there is should have been good. The trope of enemies turning lovers is always a nice one, especially if the main characters are famous. However, this story was a tad lacking in more than one thing. Emotion is the one I’m missing the most. The authors tell us Thomas is extremely frustrated, but it doesn’t really come across. I could see it, and yes, I was extremely vexed by Adam, but Thomas’ emotions are not touchable.
Adam, god what a wanker. I still don’t understand why Thomas would even fall for him in the end. But, maybe if there had been more hinting of some form of attraction before this story takes place, but not now. Too little background for and too little actual history between the MC’s is described.
But what irritated me the most was the overuse of the word ‘chap’. Every sentence where a male is described or mentioned, he is called a chap. Even when they are talking about themselves. It got to the point that I asked a few British friends if that word is even used that much anymore. And low and behold, it’s not. It’s old fashioned and snotty.
Thomas was a nice man, and the only reason this story had any stars at all. So, no, I’m not recommending this one. Unless you like one dimension reads that have a bit of a British feel to it.
RATING: 
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