THE SEVENTH VEIL OF SALOME

Victoria Villarreal and an ensemble cast narrate a thrilling epic set in 1950s Hollywood. Sword-and-sandal films are all the rage, so when an unknown actress--from Mexico, no less--is chosen to play Salome in the latest picture, tempers flare. Villarreal capably portrays the three main characters: Vera Larios, the unknown Mexican ingénue; Nancy Hartley, a bit player who feels cheated out of a starring role; and Salome herself. Villarreal deftly portrays the mental agonies Vera undergoes as she tries to contort herself to meet the desires of the film's director, while at the same time portraying Nancy's descent into a deluded hell of her own making. Villarreal gives Salome some agency, while deftly highlighting her similarity to both Vera and Nancy. K.M.P. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2024]