Like a Virgin

by Gordon Steel

Angela and Maxine want to make it to the "Top of the Pops." Everything is going according to plan until Angela is diagnosed with terminal leukemia. Her coming to terms with death, desertion, casual sex, substance-dependence and family make Like a Virgin a touching piece of realism that will strike a chord in everyone's heart.

Genres: Plays

88 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

Reviews

[Pamela Lilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter had to read this as it was part of her acting exam, so of course I had to get in on the action. Written nearly 20 years ago and following two 16 year old girls, Angela and Maxine, with aspirations of becoming pop stars. Their love of Madonna is admirable, they really do live it up, drinking, smoking, bunking off school. This is not a novel, it’s a play, written in 2 acts with multiple scenes with only 5 characters throughout. I laughed my way through the first act (hilarious), and cried my way through the second act (heartbreaking). Not something I would choose to read (I was supporting and assisting my daughter), I don’t do sad, ever, by choice. That said I loved it, but, no, I won’t be doing a reread, and I won’t be going to see it live if it ever comes to a theatre near me, mascara streaks down my face is not a good look on me.

[rach · Rating 2 out of 5]

i read this for drama and ibr it was a bit shit

all the characters were one sided and nothing was like,,, properly explained? i didn’t understand alot of it because it felt really really rushed

AND why was the part where angela got cancer so underdeveloped? surely that would be a more pivotal part of the play

one part i did like however was the scene where they were looking at the sex positions i thought that was really funny 😭

and i also really enjoyed how parts of what everyone says were used in angela’s final monologue (i only really noticed because i have memorised the monologue for my gcse 💀),, like it references so much and i thought that was really clever

-‘why aren’t i normal’ maxine tells angela to act normal earlier in the play
-‘always going on about our dad this and our dad that’ pretty self explanatory
-‘is that too much to ask?’ i’m pretty sure viv said this at the beginning??
-‘i’d go on holiday, i’d travel’ viv plans a trip to spain fter learning of angela’s cancer
-‘what’s the point in laying on the beach getting a tan?’ same as above
-‘tell me to fuck off. slap me.’ ken slaps viv at the very beginning and eight year old angela watches

with that bit i think it’s almost showing how what viv and ken did at the beginning changed how angela acts throughout, what they said at the beginning is so similar to what angela said when she was angry and i thought that was cool

even with those good bits, i thought it was very shit 😭

[esme mae (taylor's version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

i only had to read it because of LAMDA but it was really average. not the way i wanted to kick the year off , but here we are. didnt really enjoy the character or the story and it all felt SO rushed!! I may feel different if I had seen it and not read it, but will not read it again.

[Chloe Clifton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought reading a play wouldn't make me sob fml it's 11am

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

One dramatic monologue from Angela towards the end. Really enjoyed writing style (funny but also real and moving). Will look into Steel’s other work.

[Zoe Davey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am playing the character of Angela in this hilarious, witty and deeply moving play about Madonna, sex, teenage girls and a harrowing undertone of myeloid luekemia. The relationships between the characters and the journey they go on makes for a gripping and laugh-inducing read.

[Chloe (Paint and Butterflies Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious, romp with a serious undertone detailing the day to day of teenage life, love and ambitions - and the tragic reality when all of that is snatched away.

Really funny, the character Maxine is a hoot.

Totally worth my time bet it is a real blast to watch on stage!

[Harriet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really funny and emotional.

[lu · Rating 1 out of 5]

the monologue at the end was so devastating omg