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:

• Michael Gillen
• Hannah Keith
• George Keith
• Walter Paige
• Jean Hewart
• Talbot Estus

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 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 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 is an amateur actress and is part of The Group. She is married to 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 Cassilda, queen of 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 Theatre refused to continue showing the play.

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 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 Estus' play, and both he and Hannah claim to have performed Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger exactly as written in the script.

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 Jean Hewart.

• In the play Carcosa, or The Queen and the Stranger, Walter plays Thale.

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 Walter Paige the latest to trail after her like a lost puppy.

• According to 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 Camilla.