Introduction: "a good night out for the girls" --;Jam and Jerusalem, sentimentality and feminism: calendar girls --;Roaring women and class acts: the naked truth and the Chippendales' ultimate girls night out --;Age liberation: Susan Boyle, "Grumpy old women" and Virginia Ironside's monologues --;Once more with feeling: Joanna Murray-Smith's The female of the species and Nic Green's trilogy --;Work, family, romance and the utopian sensibilities of the chick megamusical Mamma Mia! --;The ghosts of new burlesque --;Entertaining others: Shappi Khorsandi and Andi Osho --;"Are we there yet?": final reflections & Marisa Carnesky's Ghost train.