====== The Group ======

An amateur West London theater company, ‘The Group’, is performed [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]] (a fantasy by [[Talbot Estus]] adapted from the French) at [[the Scala theater]] on October 17th 1928. 

 The Group's performers included: 
  * [[The Group#Michael Gillen]]
  * [[The Group#Hannah Keith]] 
  * [[The Group#George Keith]]
  * [[The Group#Walter Paige]]
  * [[The Group#Jean Hewart]]
  * [[Talbot Estus]]

===== Michael Gillen =====

 A keen amateur actor, it was Gillen who introduced his companion and rumoured lover [[Talbot Estus]] to **//'The Group'//**. Gillen is 61, grey-haired, but well-preserved despite a little rheumatism that necessitates the use of a cane.

  * Brought up and educated in Dublin, Gillen lived for 30 years in New York City where he worked for Doubleday, Doran & Co (where he was Estus' publisher prior to his retirement).
  * A few years ago, Gillen consulted [[Doctor Frederick Bartlett|Dr Bartlett]] for personal reasons, and now his concern for the mental health of [[Talbot Estus]] leads him to invite Bartlett to the premiere of the play, to make an informal assessment of his dear friend.
  * In the play [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]], Michael plays [[king_in_yellow_entities#The Stranger]].
  * Driven away by Talbot's erratic behaviour, Gillen was absent when his friend hanged himself, though he immediately returned to organise the funeral.
===== Hannah Keith =====

Hannah is an amateur actress and is part of The Group. She is married to [[The Group#George Keith]] and is the sister of [[Andrew Saunders]].

  * Hannah hails from Scotland. Good-looking, with long blonde hair, she is a plain and sensible dresser. Hannah is an organised, rational woman, loving of her family and with a gentle sense of humor.
  * Hannah is the best actress in the play [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]] where she plays [[king_in_yellow_entities#Cassilda]], queen of [[king_in_yellow_entities#Yhtill]].
  * Like George, Hannah insists that she acted the play exactly as written in the script.
  * Hannah was quite disturbed by the play and has had some odd dreams in relation to it. She is quite relieved that [[the_scala_theater|The Scala Theatre]] refused to continue showing the play.

===== George Keith =====

A clerk with the Central Electricity Board, George is a quiet, dedicated family man whom has an unlikely taste for amateur theatrics (he's married to [[The Group#Hannah Keith]], and is therefore [[Andrew Saunders]] brother-in-law).  Although he is a stiff, somewhat limited, actor (this 'stiffness' also extending to his social interactions), he is tall and handsome, traits that often gets him cast as the leading man in productions. 

  * George played the dual roles of Uoht and Naotalba in [[Talbot Estus|Estus']] play, and both he and Hannah claim to have performed [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]] exactly as written in the script.

===== Walter Paige =====

A very young looking 21 year old art student and amateur actor with a sickly demeanour and permanently worried expression. Dresses smartly and is apparently in love (unrequited) with [[The Group#Jean Hewart]].

  * In the play [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]], Walter plays [[king_in_yellow_entities#Thale]].

===== Jean Hewart =====

Second daughter of Lord Hewart, the Lord Chief Justice; the pretty, delicate, redheaded Jean is a keen amateur actress with dreams of a professional career. She certainly has both looks and talent. In personality she is very feminine, breathy and bubbly. She's had many suitors, but has never been engaged; the poor [[The Group#Walter Paige]] the latest to trail after her like a lost puppy.

  * According to [[The Group#Hannah Keith]], Jean has also been having dreams related to the play.
  * In the play [[Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger]], Jean plays the part of [[king_in_yellow_entities#Camilla]].