The Last Gasp - A Victorian murder mystery. St Saviour's Saturday September 16th.
It's New Year's Eve, 1899. George Sweet, the 5th Earl of Coddingham, has lead
a wicked and dissolute life.His past is finally
catching up with him and, eager to keep out of reach of the law, he is planning
to flee abroad. Before he goes, he is holding one final party: "The Last
Gasp". Invited to it are all the people to whom his appalling behaviour
has brought the most grief and heartache: his ex-wives, Florence and Dawn, his
present wife, Jojo, his ballet dancer son, William, and his long-suffering friend,
Bernard. George is determined to use his party to make up for past mistakes.
People from the Earl's local village and members of his staff are also at "The Last Gasp": the local vicar is recruiting new members for the church choir, cavalry officer Captain Ratliffe is breaking a few more women's hearts, and Jarvis, the Earl's loyal butler, is making sure no one steals the sherry. The Earl's plans go slightly awry, however, when the police unexpectedly turn up, hoping to arrest someone for murder.
Who do they want to arrest? The Earl of Coddingham....
Everyone taking part is given a character. As well as having a murder to investigate,
characters also have their own, secret
objectives. Why does the church choir only accept female members? Where is the
Earl hiding all his money? Can anyone persuadeCaptain Ratliffe to do the decent
thing? "The Last Gasp" is a Victorian murder mystery which runs for
about three hours. Ideal for anyone who likes intrigue, infamy, stiff drinks
and stiff collars.
Every guest is a character in the unfolding drama, but nobody has any lines to learn. You will not know your character's secrets until you arrive on the night!
Everyone has a different information and a different set of objectives. By interacting with others, and by pooling your knowledge, listening and asking questions, and then forming teams, you should be able to guess the murderer.
| Part | Person |
| Inspector Crane | Adrian Strain |
|
Jarvis, the Earl's butler |
Alex Agrotis |
| P.Cs. Coppit & Shrugg | Peter Alder & Jason Agrotis |
| Captain Phillip Ratcliffe, a socialite | Bruce King |
| Florence Sweet, the earl's 1st wife | Catriona Wrottesley |
| Bernard Fry, Lady Coddingham's former husband | Charles Courquin |
| Edward Pendle, a musician | Chris Eridani Ball |
| Martha Dooley, a maid in the household | Clare Myerscough |
| Shylock Nomes, a sleuth | David Elcombe |
| Remington Hope, the Earl's biographer | Fran Eridani-Ball |
| Marchmain Pierrot, the Earl's dresser | Georgina Courquin |
| Sam Jenkins, the Earl's lawyer | Imogen de la Bere |
| Lady Masheter, a society hostess | Jackie Elson |
| Preiffer Pfifer, an academic | Jenny Wigram |
| Reverend Oliver Twite, the vicar | Michael Elves |
| Dr Hammer, the Earl's doctor | Jill Walker |
| Alfred Smart, a club owner | James Cash |
| Hermione.Mersey and Jemima Frome, crime reporters |
Ellie & Christina Corquin
|
| Rumbold Merchant, landowner | Diane Fellows |
| Dawn Sweet, the Earl's 2nd wife | Libby Agotis |
| Maggie Struthers, widow of a casino manager | Pat Elves |
| Dame Marjorie Blenkinsop, a grandee | Joyce Percival |
| Humphrey Trippington, the Queen's steward | Brian Fellows |
| Lenny Lipgood, a romantic working man | Mike Mura |
| Sir Huxtable Ratcliffe, Philip's father | John Myerscough |
| Harper Dinsdale, a mysterious person | Miriam Mugan |
| Johnny Pigge, a villain | Anthony Strain |
| George Sweet, 5th Earl of Coddingham | Phil Elson |
| William Sweet his son, a ballet dancer | Phil Elson (this is not a mistake) |
| Lady Coddingham, a former exotic dancer | Rebecca Courquin |
| Daniel Worsley, the Earl's gardener | Richard Hillier |
| Lord Masheter, a grandee | Robin Dodds |
| Bellamy Bunting, a journalist | Rosie Marson |
| Dodger, the grocer's boy | Rupert Marson |
| Pat Hartley, a schoolteacher | Sue Myerscough |
| Ruby Lipgood, glamorous wife to Lenny | Sophie Agrotis |
| Sterling Verity, a landowner | Sue King |
| Gertrude Pendle, a lady, supposedly mother to Edward | Mandi Rogers |
| Queen Victoria, herself! | Teresa Dodds |
| Gibbet, Sir Huxtable's servant | Tiggi Harding |
| Lord Blenkinsop, a grandee | Tony Wigram |
| Aldophus Pinkerton-Stopes, a photographer | Jeremy Harding |
| Anna-Carlotta Pinkeron-Stopes, his wife | Elizabeth Cash |
Victorian. For men, evening dress will make a useful substitute.