"A humorous contemporary tale"
When she married her spouse Roger six years ago,
Elizabeth Baskin thought he was an eleven in a male ranking
system that tops out at ten. As an undercover field agent
for luxurious properties, she seeks perfection in the
hotels she clandestinely canvases. Elizabeth expects the
same in her personal life. Thus, she decides she must
renovate her heavier and lazier real estate attorney spouse
so that instead of his sleeping away the night, they make
love. Elizabeth knows she needs professional help to
accomplish her agenda. She visits Dr. Gordon Farkus, a
Beverly Hills "life enhancement" guru. Gordon persuades
Elizabeth to buy an herb that magically changes an aging
over the hill dud into a lovemaking stud. However,
Elizabeth puts too much of the elixir in Roger's orange
juice. Instead of lovingly turning to her, he becomes a
narcissistic babe magnet. Desperate to regain her husband
the sloth, Elizabeth seeks a cure for the cure. THE SECRET INGREDIENT is a humorous contemporary tale
with messages on perfection and satisfaction that curiously
the cat would understand, but ironically fails to have the
bite of the author's more powerful satires. Instead the
audience receives an amusing Southern California romp
reminiscent of the movie Love Potion Number Nine filled
with funny fluff but lacking the intelligent sting of
FEMALE INTELLIGENCE. Still Jane Heller shows she continues
as one of the top satirical humorists with this enjoyable
frolic. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted January 10, 2002
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