MISS TRACEY (an elderly spinster, a lady of independent means from Storton-under-the-Hill, Gloucestershire. She is very lively, intelligent, downright, with a sharp staccato manner of speech. She is dressed throughout in sensible travelling tweeds)
HELEN TENNANT (about twenty-five, pretty, and with pleasant manners. She is the games and social hostess of the hotel. Dressed throughout in winter-day clothes, rather “sporting” in type. Preferably fair)
EDNA SANDARS (a bookkeeper and secretary, about twentyseven or twenty-eight, and preferably dark and rather sleek. Sometimes wears very smart spectacles. Rather hard and sharp. Quite smartly dressed, in darkish clothes)
MRS. (ROSE) HEATON (staff manageress of the hotel. About thirty-five, rather handsome, quiet, efficient, reserved, rather bitter in manner. She is already wearing her uniform, which is a smart black outfit)
SALLY PHILIPS (one of the hotel company’s more experienced maids. About twenty-seven. Rather “tough” in manner, sharp-witted, cynical. Quite nice-looking. Wears the hotel maids’ uniform, which should be quite attractive)
CLARA PACKER (another maid, younger and far less sophisticated than Sally. Wears same uniform. A simple, good-hearted creature)
KEITH HENLEY (assistant manager of the hotel. About twenty-eight. Good-looking nice young man, with good social background. Keen on his job. Wears ordinary good clothes, not the black coat, etc., he will wear when hotel is open)
ARNOLD JORDAN (one of the hotel chefs. About forty-five. Preferably large and rather fat. Is half-French, and talks with faint French accent, using the French “r.” Goodnatured, amusing, but temperamental. Wears ordinary good clothes, but can be seen once wearing chef ’s cap and apron)
FRED POOLE (the cocktail barman of the hotel. About thirty. Very sleek and smart, and affects slight American style of speech above his native Cockney. Nattily dressed, but wears a white uniform jacket of cocktail barman instead of ordinary lounge coat)
ROBERT CROWTHER (the hotel company’s detective. An ex-Scotland Yard officer. About fifty. Preferably tall, heavy, rather military figure. Wears ordinary clothes. Still the selfimportant policeman, with loud voice and heavy-handed manner)