Dramatis Personae: Cast

Book One: A Dialogue with Death
Book Two: ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ or ‘The Sinister Figure’
Book Three: The Velvet Wraith

Book One: A Dialogue with Death

Lady Hyacinth Abernathy

An aging dowager, blond-grey hair pinned up, wearing a black evening dress. Her face is interested and eyes intent

Hostess for the evening’s events.

A good friend of Baron Churchill.

Widow of Sir Reginald Abernathy.

Mother of Peter ‘Peabody’ Abernathy.

Godmother to Jessica O’Hara.

Jessica O’Hara [Deceased]

A young woman with impeccable stance, sitting straight-backed in a red-velvet gown with raven hair bundled above a captivating face

Goddaughter of Lady Abernathy. Nominally in Lady Abernathy’s care while her parents are abroad in Australia for an extended period.

Colonel Marigold

A jowly older man in an pristine red army jacket that he more than fills out, with huge white-haired sideburns and moustache

A dear old friend of Lady Abernathy.

Claims to know Baron Churchill, but exactly how and how well is unknown.

Simone d’Chartreuse

A handsome young man in green drinking vest leaning insouciantly with a glass of green liqueur in his hand

A handsome and somewhat decadent young man in attendance at the séance. Reverend of the Chamber of the Fallen Star.

Madam Perceptica [Deceased]

A woman wearing a purple dress that she filled out with ease, a face that tried to import mystery, and an enormous had covered in pink feathers

A Medium employed by Lady Abernathy to contact her late husband. Killed in the River House drawing room. May 1879

Jacob Black

A straggly haired boatman with balding top in a bedraggled suit

The operator of the ferry to the River House.

Bianca Innocenti [Deceased]

A middle-aged woman with neat cook's clothing and hair tied back in a net

The cook at the River House. A last-minute replacement for the regular cook, Mrs Layton. Killed in the River House kitchen. May 1879.

Rufus Harengus [Deceased]

An upright middle-aged butler in formal butlering clothes, with a round jowly face and slick hair

The butler at the River House.

He has an unplaceable eastern European accent.

Killed in the River House grounds. May 1879.

Elizabeth Brownstone [Deceased]

A youngish woman holding a serving platter wearing maid's clothing. Her face looks like she is about to wink with a shared secret

The maid at the River House. Killed in the River House hall. May 1879.

Peter ‘Peabody’ Abernathy

A foppishly handsome, blonde-haired young man, shirt half open revealing a golden chest, holds a half full glass of red wine silhouetted by a window in dusk light

The son of Sir and Lady Abernathy.

An acquaintance of Daphne Marleybone although he has not seen him in almost two years. Previously Peabody would invite Daphne to attend his yacht racing. Their last contact was a little over eighteen months ago when Peabody wrote to Daphne inviting him for a weekend in the country in Cheddar or some similarly awful place. That frightful oink Conor ‘Conny’ Greystoke was also invited. It sounded dreadfully dull, so Daphne chose to decline. He fears Peabody has been sulking ever since.

Conor Greystoke [Deceased]

A young man with a thin vanity moustache in top hat, waistcoat, round glasses, smoking a cigar and looking pleased with himself

A frightful bore who never seems to talk about anything other than his father’s wretched trains. Died at Rorke’s Drift Station. January 1879.

Beatrice ‘Betty’ Greystoke, née Bainbridge [Deceased]

A woman with fair orange hair looking somewhat sullen in a green dress with large bow

Another frightful bore. Infatuated with a romantic vision of colonial South Africa. Died at Rorke’s Drift Station. January 1879.

Detective Inspector Clement

A handsome younger man with sandy hair and tidy moustache, looking slightly confused

A detective with the newly created Criminal Investigations Department of Scotland Yard.

Book Two: ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ or ‘The Sinister Figure’

Superintendent Adolphus ‘Dolly’ Williamson

A middle-aged man with a generous greying beard wearing a double breasted police jacket

Head of the newly created Criminal Investigations Department of Scotland Yard.

John Langbrook

A handsome young fellow in evening wear with neat but shoulder length hair swept back from his face

A Conservative politician and member for East Somerset in the House of Commons. Married to Penelope Langbrook.

Penelope Langbrook

Mr. Quill

A rough-looking gentleman with scarred face in street clothes clutching a bowler hat and staring warningly

A stagehand.

Mr. Sayers

A mean-looking gentleman in street clothes and bowler hat staring intently

A stagehand.

Dr. Foedemere

A stage magician.

A serious man, focused and intent, with mutton-chop whiskers and moustache, wearing a top hat

Miss Susanna Thompson

A young, orange haired woman with pale skin in a absinthe-green dress and choker

An attendee of Dr. Foedemere’s show. Member of the Chamber of the Fallen Star.

Ms. Agatha Claremont

A middle-aged woman in emerald-green dress and matching hat looks over her shoulder

Guardian to Miss Susanna Thompson.

Mr. Chan

An suspiciously fake-looking oriental man with narrow dangling moustache and goatee, wearing a top hat and black robe

A stage Magician.

Mr. Wing

An oriental man with traditional hat and robe and a long hair braid

An associate of Mr. Chan

Luigi Colopinto

An elderly balding gentleman in a formal working suit with starched collar, near identical to his brother Guiseppe

A purveyor of fine mirrors.

Guiseppe Colopinto

An elderly balding gentleman in a formal working suit with starched collar, near identical to his brother Luigi

A purveyor of fine mirrors.

Detective Inspector Hamlin

A smart (or is it befuddled) looking fellow in bowler hat and neat grey suit

A detective with the Criminal Investigations Department of Thames Valley Police.

Randolph O’Hara [Deceased]

Father of Jessica and Natalie O’Hara.

Dorothy O’Hara [Deceased]

Mother of Jessica and Natalie O’Hara.

Mrs Buckle

Elderly woman with wireframe glasses and a bonnet

Housekeeper at the O’Hara townhouse.

Queen Victoria

Alexandrina Victoria. Daughter of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent and Strathearn and Princess Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. Victoria, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, Queen, Defender of the Faith, Empress of India.

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn

A less handsome regal royal with balding head, massive moustache, and many, many medals pinned to his regimental jacket

Arthur William Patrick Albert. Seventh child of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Soon to be married to Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia.

Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia

A handsome youngish woman with tied up hair and near shoulderless dress, wearing a fur throw

Louise Margaret Alexandra Victoria Agnes. Daughter of Prince Friedrich Karl of Prussia and Princess Maria Anna of Anhalt-Dessau. Soon to be married to Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn.

Gustavo Renaldo, Duke of Milan and Lombardy

A slightly crazed looking colourised man with raring blue eyes, trim moustache, in very formal upper military wear featuring a green sash

An Italian duke attending the royal wedding.

Anthony Salvin

An elderly man with messy white beard (with a clear top lip), combed down white hair, and a black jacket coat

Esteemed architect renovating the Tower of London. An acquaintance of Mr. Blackwood.

Eunice

A narrow faced woman who brooks no foolishness, pale with a splash of red lipstick and neatly parted hair

Trusted lieutenant in the employ of Ms. Gideon Harrow.

Lulu

An employee of Ms. Gideon Harrow.

Sasha

Hat check girl at the Dock Street Theatre.

Gordon Claridge

An old chum of Daphne’s from Eton.

Jennifer Claridge

Sister of Gordon Claridge

Lady Judith Claridge

Mother of Gordon and Jennifer Claridge.

Lord Ainsworth

Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Husband of Lady Ainsworth.

Lady Ainsworth

Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Wife of Lord Ainsworth.

Mr Barker

Purchaser of a Colopinto mirror. Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Husband of Mrs Barker. Father of Tilly Barker.

Mrs Barker

Purchaser of a Colopinto mirror. Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Wife of Mr Barker. Mother of Tilly Barker.

Tilly Barker

Daughter of Mr and Mrs Barker. Friend of Daphne Marleybone, Cubby Carter, and Bunty Banister.

Captain Carter

Purchaser of a Colopinto mirror. Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Husband of Mrs Carter. Father of Cubby Carter.

Mrs Carter

Purchaser of a Colopinto mirror. Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Wife of Captain Carter. Mother of Cubby Carter.

Cubby Carter

Son of Captain and Mrs Carter. Friend of Daphne Marleybone, Tilly Barker and Bunty Banister.

Lord Dillworthy

Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Husband of Lady Dillworthy.

Lady Dillworthy

Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Wife of Lord Dillworthy.

Monsieur Etihad

Victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls.

Mrs Constance Foster

Potential purchaser of a Colopinto mirror. Potential victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls. Widow of the late Gerald Foster.

Mrs Gordon

Purchaser of a Colopinto mirror. Potential victim of the Burglar Who Walks Through Walls.

Eziah Cyrus

A late middle-aged bald man with a greying goatee in a suit, sneering arrogantly

The Rat King.

Captain Ernest Borgnine

A white bearded fellow dressed to the nines in a bright red Beefeater uniform with matching stockings, a black flat top hat, clutching a ceremonial spear

Captain of the Tower Guards.

Book Three: The Velvet Wraith

Mrs Esme Macbeth

An aged woman smiles mischievously, her round face surrounded by a cook's bonnet. She wears simple kitchen clothes and holds a large silver serving spoon in one hand and a serving cloth is draped over the other

Housekeeper and Cook at Highbury Hall. Originating from an unknown part of Scotland.

Mr Neils Van der Valk

A weathered fellow squints into a pale sun, a barren rocky shoreline at his back. He wears heavy clothing, the better to stay warm, in neutral grey and seaweed green

Assistant, right hand man and travelling companion to Dr Chamberlain. A Dutch national.

Dr Joseph Chamberlain

A middle-aged man with short messy hair stares into the middle distance, a relaxed smile on his face. He wears a pink frilled shirt, unbuttoned to expose a lightly haired chest, thin gold necklace, and loosely knotted silver silk cravat

Doctor, Explorer, Orchidologist. Old chum of Dr. Hawthorne. Resident of Highbury Hall. The second only European to return from the Americas with a Velvet Wraith orchid. Aka ‘Potters’ to his chums.

Tabitha, Kahn, Sasha & Maximus

Dr Chamberlain’s pets. Tabitha & Kahn are leopards, Sasha is a black leopard, and Maximus is a Mandril. All hail from the jungles of the Congo. Don’t give them anything to chase.

Dr William Watson

An upright man with too-small round eyeglasses, neatly comb-overed hair and bushy but controlled sideburns, wearing a formal bureaucrat's suit and tie

Secretary of the Orchid Council of the Royal Horticultural Society

Roland Aston and Royce Martin

Two farmhands sit atop a bale of hay. Both have prodigious moustaches, boots, waistcoats and caps. Each holds a scythe and thrashing stick.

Farmhands of Dr Chamberlain. Roland was originally from a good family now fallen on hard times.

Mr Nevil Barnard & Mrs Mabel Barnard

A white haired man in a green suit stands in a kitchen alongside a tan haired woman in dress and scarf.

Mr Barnard is landlord of the Nettle and Thorn and Postmaster for Druid’s Heath. Mrs Barnard is cleaner, cook, barmaid, scullery hand, washer woman, livestock tender, waitress, entertainment co-ordinator, fire stoker, brewer’s assistant, buyer and quartermaster for the Nettle & Thorn, and also Deputy Postmistress for Druid’s Heath.

Mr Montgomery Smith

A moustached man holds a large hammer to an anvil. He has a pot belly and leather apron

Smith and foundryman at the Pierce Locksley Metal and Carriage Works, Druid’s Heath.

Father Cristobal de Acuña

A stern, balding man in formless black religious robes, patting a lion hidden in shadow

Co-founder of the Quito College of Jesuits ('Jesuit de Quito'). An explorer of the Amazon basin. Author of ‘Nuevo Descubrimiento del gran rio de las Amazonas'. Discoverer of the Velvet Wraith orchid.

Friar Dr. Juan Pablo Montoya

A friendly-looking balding man turns to the camera. He has a neat black beard and is dressed in a non-descript grey coat. He holds a book aloft with one hand, and writes in a journal with the other

A Jesuit de Quito. Anthropologist and explorer of the Amazon basin. Author of ‘Un estudio de las tribus indígenas del valle del Napo’.

Friar Juan Ignacio Molina

A large-headed man, with frown-lined face and a brown judge's wig, looks up from reading a book

Chair of Botanical Historiography of the New World at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Student of the works of de Acuña and Montoya.

The Churchill Casebook of Curiosities