Happy Endings

Mel wins a role in a production of Chekhov's Three Sisters and quickly becomes enmeshed in the lives and loves of her fellow cast members. She forms a strong friendship with Clare, the show's flamboyant designer. When Clare's relationship with the play's director is destroyed by an ambitious actress, Mel is shocked and angry. The show, of course, must go on: Mel manages to cope with her resentment, thanks to a combination of hard-won professionalism and the excitement of her own first romance. It is not necessary to have seen or read Three Sisters to appreciate the backstage drama that is the core of this novel. However, readers familiar with the play will appreciate the way in which its themes are echoed in the novel's action. Aspiring thespians will find much to relish in this engrossing depiction of the grit and glamour of the theater. A smattering of authentic British slang gives the dialogue an exotic sparkle. Ages 12-up. (Mar.)