The Suitcase: Characters

The cast should consist of 12 actors: six women, four men, & two children (one boy & one girl). Roles are meant to doubled/tripled as follows: Troy/Herr Dietrich, Mrs. Jenkins/Ms. Clara, Mr. Jenkins/The Shopkeeper, Lord Charles/Günter, Ms. Atkinson/Marjorie, Kenneth/Baldwin, & Miss. Charlotte/Lottie/Victoria.

Main Characters

The Honourable April Bianca Emily Ellis:
Female | Age range: 20s | Mezzo soprano A3 – E5 | Accent: RP
An ambitious young noble woman, April dreams of writing and producing a legendary play that will free her from a stifling existence of duty. Although April often doubts her abilities and can come across as rather selfish, she is approachable, dependable, daring, and more talented than she knows.

Regina Borman:
Female | Age range: 20s | Soprano (no belt) G#3 – F#5 | Accent: GA
A captivating lover of stories, Regina has explored much of the world with a single suitcase, a locket, and a mind full of books. She is an imaginative, loyal, intuitive, and compassionate young woman still affected by the loss of her family and suppressed memories of what once was.

William Troy Gillenwater:
Male | Age range: Late 20s | Tenor (strong low range) B2 – A4 | Accent: GA
Compelling actor and soldier in the 69th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army, Troy is strongly resolved, artistically sensitive, and deeply sincere. A man of two estranged sides, he fights to reconcile his current life with his broken past in Nazi Germany.

Mr. Jenkins:
Male | Age range: 50+ | Low Baritone (strong high range, optional E2) F#2 – F4# | Accent: RP
The butler of Wimberly Manor, husband of Mrs. Jenkins, and proud ally of “Miss. Ellis,” Jenkins seems at first glance to be a man of imposing pomp and circumstance. He is amiable, humorous, and always strives to keep things sailing smoothly—though he cannot pick a lock.

Mrs. Jenkins:
Female | Age range: 50+ | Alto (can be easily played by a “non-singer”) G3 – D5 | Accent: RP
The housekeeper of Wimberly Manor and wife of Mr. Jenkins, Mrs. Jenkins practically raised “April, pet” and is one of her staunchest supporters. The trusty Mrs. J is motherly, dignified, and more than a tad on the fiery side.

The Rt Hon. The Lord Charles Frances Edward Ellis III:
Male | Age range: 50s | Vocal range (None, but must be able to speak on rhythm.) | Accent: RP
April’s narcissistic father, Lord Charles is embittered, condescending, and set in his ways. His lordship loathes (and fears) his daughter’s ambitions and leads a double life as philandering man-about-town though he allows no one else to stray from the confines of societal perfection.

Ms. Clara:
Female | Age range: 50+ | Vocal range (None) | Accent: RP
Proud owner of “Ms. Clara’s Wartime Shop of Useful Odds and Ends” where April works, Ms. Clara is a bubbly busy-body and indulgent “Auntie” to all. She is sprightly and prim, nurses an incurable sweet-tooth, and will sell every little thing from fine China to monkey wrenches.

The Shopkeeper Next Door or “Joe”:
Male | Age range: 50+ | Low Baritone (strong high range, optional E2) F#2 – F4# | Accent: RP/Cockney (Estuary)
Owner of a grocery and butcher shop next door to Ms. Clara’s, the Shopkeeper is a very jovial and good hearted, though rather bumbling, old chap. He is head-over-heels in love with Ms. Clara and will to anything for her… yes. Anything.

Ms. Hilary Atkinson:
Female | Age range: Mid 40s | Vocal range (None) | Accent: RP
Staunch woman of the war effort and Ms. Clara’s best friend, Ms. Atkinson organizes drives, raises funds, and volunteers for whatever cause comes her way (“On we charge—merrily, merrily!”). She is a whirlwind: madly busy and grimly optimistic. She has a passion for Shakespeare.

Kenneth Oliver:
Male | Age range: 20s | Vocal range (None) | Accent: Cockney
A jack-of-all-trades from London’s East End, Kenneth is quiet, intelligent, and charmingly quirky. He wears a pair of thick spectacles and works on the innards of aeroplanes—along with anything else that needs a fixin’ up or crackin’ open. He is Charlotte’s adoring husband.

Miss. Charlotte Ida Abernathy Oliver:
Female | Age range: 20s | Vocal range (None, but must “play” a typewriter on rhythm.) | Accent: Costal “Old” Southern
A former Red Cross clubmobile girl, Miss. Charlotte is a sweet-as-pie-on-a-hot-summer-day young lady from Natchez, Mississippi. All smiles and hospitality despite her current humble circumstances, she is a friend to everyone she meets, loves “swinging,” and types at a blazing 100 words per minute for business. She is Kenny’s doting wife.

Lottie Elders:
Female | Age range: Late 20s | Vocal range (None) | Accent: RP
The sleek, sophisticated, and skilled Ms. Elders is a renowned West End actress who April (and The Whole Wide World) admires. Though Lottie would never sink to become the bratty prima donna, she is quite oblivious of most everything but herself and her ambition.

Memory Characters

Leona Borman:
Female | Age range: 30s | Soprano A3 – A5 | Accent: GA
Finn and Regina’s mother, mentor, and beloved playmate. Leona is a writer of faerie stories. Appalled by her husband Günter’s ideology and violent actions, she fights to protect Finn and Regina from following in his footsteps.

Young Finn:
Male | Age range: 13 | Treble | Accent: GA (also speaks in German)
Caring, dedicated, and wise beyond his years, Young Finn dreams of being an actor. He strives to meet the standards of his father, though he prefers performing stories with his sister, Regina, and studying works by the great English playwrights.

Young Regina:
Female | Age range: 9 | Treble | Accent: GA
Full of life, wonder, and joy, Young Regina lives in a spellbound world of adventure and imagination. She thrives on Leona’s stories, has a deep relationship with Finn, and intends to one day travel ‘round the world in a hot air balloon.

Günter Borman:
Male | Age range: Late 30s | Tenor B2 – A4 | Accent: German (also speaks in German)
Finn and Regina’s father, Günter is a former army officer working for the National Socialist German Workers’ Party of Germany. Once a bookish young romantic, he is now stern and sadistic. Günter’s violent nationalism fractures his family, shattering his love for Leona and twisting Finn’s future.

Characters in April’s Play

Victoria Leitz:
Female | Age range: 20s | Vocal range (None) | Accent: GA (Transatlantic/Old Hollywood)
Heroine of April’s play, Victoria is an undercover journalist who will pledge allegiance to no country. Vivacious, cunning, and untrusting, she ventures into Berlin during the Great War to report on a radical “Allianz der Mutigen.”

Herr Dietrich:
Male | Age range: Late 20s | Tenor Eb3 – Ab4 | Accent: GA (Transatlantic/Old Hollywood)
Byronic hero of April’s play, Herr Dietrich is the fierce yet “Unknown” political master of Die Allianz der Mutigen and, presumably, the confidant of its elusive founder. Driven and tormented, he might have known Victoria many years ago.

Marjorie Lee:
Female | Age range: 40s | Vocal range (None) | Accent: GA (Transatlantic/Old Hollywood)
Femme fatale of April’s play, Marjorie is a German politician’s power-hungry American mistress who has ambitions to lead Die Allianz. The stately “Frau Lee” is sultry, sly, controlling, and “dangerous.”

Baldwin Röth:
Male | Age range: 30s | Vocal range (None) | Accent: German (Cliché Hollywood Style)
“Villain” of April’s play, Baldwin is a dubious, moody, and excessively suave German army officer. Exceedingly jealous of Herr Dietrich, he longs to overthrow him and take his place in Die Allianz.

THE SUITCASE
Book by Luscinda L. Dickey
Music, Lyrics, & Orchestrations by Luscinda L. Dickey
Additional Lyrics by Kira Byler