The Brie, The Bullet &The Black Cat Murder Mystery Dinner PartyThe Scene October 1942 - Across Europe and Africa, the war is turning against Germany. At Stalingrad, despite enduring months of the worst fighting ever seen, Russian soldiers and civilians are starting to push the German army back from its positions in North Africa. Montgomery has just launched his assault on Rommel's troops at El Alamein and in the east of Africa. British forces have seized control of the strategically vital ports of Madagascar. In the words of Winston Churchill, 'It is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end, but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.' Meanwhile France has been divided in two - Paris and the north is occupied by the Germans, whilst the south and the colonies are nominally independent under the puppet government in Vichy. Casablanca falls under Vichy control. Despite the presence of German troops, it is still governed by French civilian authorities. It too has seen fighting, but nothing much worse than the kind of bar-room brawl that helps soldiers of all nations relax when off-duty. America has entered the War, however, is still officially at peace with Vicky France. Diplomatic relations between the two governments are tense and will be broken off next month, shortly before US forces land at Casablanca to take the city for the Allies - for now, however, American civilians are safe in Casablanca. the British, on the other hand, are very clearly the enemy. The mime artist 'The Black Cat' has been murdered in Casablanca. The 'Suspects' gather in the candle lit dining room with original Toulouse-Lautrec paints hanging on the walls. They are all guests at the official residence of the Deputy Mayor of Casablanca. What is the motive for the murder and who is or are the murderers? The Suspects Huges Le Grandbutte Deputy Mayor of Casablanca is a loyal bureaucratic servant of the Vichy administration. Edith Le Grandbutte is not so happily married to Huges. Edith was a dancer in Paris and yearns for the glamour of her former life. Nicole Le Grandbutte is the daughter of Edit and Huges. She is 18 years old. Nicole would also prefer to be in Paris. Otto von Pinklewurwst a Gestapo officer who is fanatical and quite mad and doesn't understand why he is in Casablanca instead of a senior post in Berlin. Kirk Ramson III is an American in his late 30's and is a doomed romantic hero who nurses a broken heart and a bottle of whiskey. Kirk has an African cafe in downtown Casablanca. Countess Bogov is a Russian aristocrat in exile, who is glamours and mysterious. The Countess is a passionate anti-communist and has sympathies with the Germans. Monsieur Oily-Carte is a booking agent for Le Moulin Bleu, a nightclub in Paris. He is educated in England, is sophisticated and has impeccable manners. Pierre Paysanski is a 24 year old poor poet and artist. Pierre is of mixed French and Russian parentage and of course is an anti-Fascist. He is unable to fight because he has bad legs. Cherie Boot is a Frenchwoman in her 20's and is a husky- voiced cabaret singer. She is sultry, decadent and exotic, almost androgynous. Ingrid Pith is a Danish art dealer, specialising in finding painting from all over occupied Europe. She is very busty and flirtatious. Seamus O'Hack is a dissolute Irish journalist, looking for the one big story that will give him a chance to get to the centre of the action. Unfortunately, he is more interested in drinking than writing. Pia Fedora is a Spanish cabaret star and the lover of The Black Cat. She is fiery, passionate and bereaved. Gallery |
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