Characters
Auguste
Auguste serves diligently as part of the dedicated staff at the illustrious Hotel Monte Gabriel.
Mr. Jimmy Cherry
Jimmy Cherry, an English artist with a penchant for grandeur, recently painted a mural for the Australian government and celebrated his nuptials in romantic Venice. With the specter of war looming, he brims with patriotic zeal, eager to enlist. Yet, his warm demeanor extends even to those who will soon be his adversaries—a German doctor and an Italian commander—exhibiting remarkable courtesy amidst the chaos.
Mrs. Cherry
Newlywed to her artistic husband, Mrs. Cherry finds herself at Fortnum’s, a place she describes as a blemish on her family’s honor. Stirred by the news of Quillery’s execution for his outspoken defiance of the Italians, she is filled with a righteous fury, risking similar censure. "Don’t call me your friend," she boldly challenges Captain Locicero, echoing Quillery’s defiant sentiments, "because I say what Quillery said—damn you—damn your whole country of mad dogs for having started this horror." Her husband, however, manages to calm her tempestuous spirit, persuading her to make amends before they depart.
Edna Creesh
Part of Harry Van’s ensemble, Edna Creesh adds her own flair to the troupe’s performances.
Dumptsy
A seasoned bellboy in his forties, Dumptsy has witnessed the transformation of his homeland from an Austrian province to Italian sovereignty after World War I. With a nonchalant chuckle, he confides to Harry, "But it doesn’t make much difference who your masters are. When you get used to them, they are all the same." In a poignant turn of events, he dons an Italian army uniform, drafted into the ranks.
Bebe Gould
Bebe Gould graces the stage as another vibrant member of Harry Van’s troupe.
Irene
Known for her exotic pronunciation of "Ear-ray-na," Irene’s enigmatic presence confuses Harry Van, who struggles to recall her as the girl named Irene from his past. Claiming to hail from the exiled Russian nobility—specifically the Romanoffs—her tales of escape are as fluid as the tides, shifting from daring sledge journeys over ice to dramatic sea rescues. Eventually, she admits to Harry that her royal lineage is mere fantasy, leaving her true origins shrouded in mystery. Her penchant for embellishment is further evidenced by her casual use of the Maharajah of Rajpipla’s name, familiarly dubbed "Pip," upon her arrival.
Traveling with Achille Weber, Irene assumes the role of his companion, though not his wife, hinting at a more complex relationship. In private, she does not shy away from gruesome imagery, painting vivid scenes of war’s devastation that unnervingly suggest a personal grievance against the young British newlyweds, who "might have touched a tender spot."
With a life marked by constant travel, Irene finds herself without a definitive nationality, her identity tied only to a League of Nations passport. As Italy severs ties with the League amidst declarations of war, Captain Locicero allows her passage alongside Weber but refuses to endorse her departure.
Harry Van eventually recalls Irene as a former member of a Russian troupe he once performed with in Omaha in 1925. She initially denies this past, but when left by Weber and at the brink of departure, she reveals a shared memory of their overnight encounter, prompting Harry’s return. Together they plan to tour with his troupe, with Irene adopting the stage name "Namora," only for their plans to be disrupted by the French bombardment of Mount Gabriele as the play draws to a close.
Shirley Laughlin
Shirley Laughlin, with a natural flair for leadership, is a trusted confidante of Harry Van within "Les Blondes." Her assertiveness shines as she takes the initiative to instruct...
(This entire section contains 1692 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
Beulah in the "Maxie Ford" dance. When Harry chooses to step away from the troupe, he entrusts Shirley with his singing role, positioning her as the next leader.
Captain Locicero
In command of the Italian headquarters, Captain Locicero faces the sobering task of detaining all train passengers as war unfolds. Despite the tense circumstances, he upholds an air of civility and respect towards these individuals, now deemed adversaries by the conflict. When Irene is abandoned by Weber to face the peril alone, the captain, though apologetic, remains dutiful in his responsibilities, demonstrating a balance of empathy and duty.
Francine Merle
A vibrant performer, Francine Merle proudly takes her place among the girls of Harry Van’s troupe.
Elaine Messiger
Elaine Messiger adds her unique charm to Harry Van’s troupe, enriching their performances.
Donald Navadel
As the hotel’s social director, Donald Navadel, an American, was recruited with hopes of attracting fellow countrymen to the resort. His spirits dim as guest numbers dwindle, yet he remains bound by his contract until March. Witnessing Quillery’s execution spurs a decisive change; he resolves to leave Italy and return to California as war envelops the region.
Orchestra Leader
The play’s opening reveals an orchestra playing to an empty audience, with Donald Navadel eventually granting the orchestra leader the liberty to cease their tunes.
Pittaluga
Pittaluga, the zealous proprietor of Hotel Monte Gabriele, grows increasingly frustrated with Don Navadel's audacious behavior as he issues orders throughout the establishment. In response, Pittaluga extends an offer for Navadel to abandon his contract and resign from his position.
Quillery
Hailing from France, Quillery is a fervent labor organizer returning from an international Labor Congress held in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, when their train is unexpectedly halted at Monte Gabriele. He claims no allegiance to any nation, musing, "Perhaps if I had raised pigs," alluding to his family's trade, "I should have been a Frenchman, as they were. But I went to work in a factory—and machinery is international." However, after receiving devastating news of the bombing of Paris, Quillery's calm facade shatters. He furiously denounces the Italians at the hotel, exclaiming, "Down with Fascism!" and asserts his identity as a Frenchman. In his final moments, executed for his defiance, he cries out with unwavering patriotism, "Long live France!"
Signor Rossi
Signor Rossi makes only fleeting appearances, conversing in Italian. He suffers from a chronic ailment, consumption, known today as tuberculosis. In an era before modern medical treatments, afflicted individuals often sought solace at resorts like Monte Gabriele, which once served as a sanatorium for those battling this disease. As Dumptsy notes, "the Fascists—they don't like to admit that anyone can get sick."
Signora Rossi
Signora Rossi accompanies Signor Rossi through the hotel, speaking softly with him in Italian.
Beulah Tremoyne
Beulah is one of the vivacious performers in Harry Van's troupe, "Les Blondes."
Harry Van
Initially slipping in unnoticed, Harry Van soon emerges as the play's central figure. As the manager of a lively ensemble of singers and dancers, he shoulders the responsibility for their well-being, both physical and moral. With a storied past in show business, Harry once peddled a miraculous patent medicine, purported to cure even cancer. He served as a "stooge" alongside "Zuleika, the Mind Reader" in a vaudeville act across the Midwest and provided piano accompaniment to silent films. Overcoming a phase of cocaine addiction "during a stage in my career when luck was bad and confusion prevailed," Harry has traversed Europe with his performers.
Possessing a buoyant personality, Harry agrees readily with any viewpoint. Seated at the piano in the lounge, he becomes a confidant to various characters, each sharing their life stories. His intelligence, he attributes to his former college days as an encyclopedia salesman, which led him to purchase and devour a complete set of encyclopedias while on the road. His amicable nature stems from his affinity for practically everyone. "All my life... I've been selling phony goods to people of meager intelligence and great faith. You'd think that would make me contemptuous of the human race, wouldn't you? But—on the contrary—it has given me faith," he reflects.
From the moment Irene enters, Harry is intrigued, though he doesn't recognize her until mid-conversation, realizing she's the redheaded girl from another vaudeville act. Once, at the Governor Bryan Hotel in Omaha, fall of 1925, he coaxed her to his room with promises of revealing a mind-reading trick, leading to a shared night. They parted ways afterward. Irene denies recalling him, yet when left stranded at Monte Gabriele, Harry hesitates to abandon her. In a poignant confession, she admits it was indeed her in Omaha. Although he departs, he returns after the train leaves, moved that she remembered their shared intimacy so vividly.
As bombs begin to rain down on Hotel Monte Gabriele, Harry remains composed, serenely playing the piano and sipping champagne, showcasing a gallant resolve in the face of danger.
Dr. Waldersee
Dr. Waldersee is eager to escape Monte Gabriele and make his way to Zurich, Switzerland. A German by birth, he is diligently working on a cancer cure, building upon the research of a Dane named Fibiger. Staying in Germany during the war would mean conscription into chemical warfare, an abominable task that goes against his ethos of healing. However, as the war unfolds, disheartenment with humanity leads him to contemplate returning to Germany, ready to embrace the madness and destruction engulfing the world.
Achille Weber
Weber casts a shadow over the play, embodying its most malevolent presence. As an arms dealer, Sherwood implies that it is men like Weber—not politicians nor the citizens of the warring nations—who are the true architects of conflict. In public, his words are sparse, but in an intimate exchange with Irene, he unveils a chilling revelation: the planes from Monte Gabriele are destined for Paris, intelligence even the local authorities are unaware of. When Irene expresses concern for his sister's safety in Paris, Weber curtly assures her they are in Montbeliard, revealing he had ample time to secure their safety.
Left alone, Irene sardonically commends Weber on "all of this wonderful death and destruction." His reaction is neither acceptance nor horror; instead, he chillingly accuses her sentiment of being "commonplace." Before the bombing commences, Italian authorities declare Irene cannot leave without escort. Out of deference to Weber, they propose he accompany her, yet he declines, leaving her to face her fate alone.