November 09, 2014

Dramatis Personae (Updated)

Below are a few characters that will be used in a Lion's Den exclusive debuting November 11, 2014 in serial installments as The Confessions of Mossy Kade



 recent pic of  Jimmy Marlow - narrator
(pic of Robert Duvall in The Godfather)


Jimmy Marlow- (narrator) Pulitzer Prize winner, 3 time finalist for National Book Award,  and page 3 columnist for The Chicago Telegram. Mossy was almost the first person Jimmy met when he started as a cub reporter for The Telegram a week after graduating college. Jimmy is 6 years Mossy's junior and has always looked upon him as mentor, kindred spirit, and considers Mossy his best reader often running early drafts by him for input.
Vanessa Marlow- Jimmy's wife who Mossy saw and fell for first but thought she'd be perfect for Jimmy and arranged for them to meet. (Deborah Kerr)


Beatrice 'Bebe' Marlow- Jimmy & Vanessa's Daughter who is 'helping' Mossy do a book series with her pup Sugar Wimsey




Mossy Kade circa 1971


Mossy Kade about age 27
(pic of James Cagney in The Public Enemy)


Mossy Kade- the protagonist who some may say bears a striking resemblance to GSL to which GSL responds: "yes in certain ways but many events depicted are either made up or if based on actual events are not entirely accurate and characters that friends of GSL may recognize have composite aspects from other people and artistic license is often needed rather than getting bogged down  sorting minutiae  and yes 'Mossy Kade' is a name I've used as an alter ego for over 30 years...those most in the know will say The Confessions ring true without being 100% accurate"
Estella and Ripley in Wales




Estella about 2004
Actress Emily Blunt said to desperately want to play Estella in future screen adaptation of The Confessions and has allegedly been throwing herself at GSL in The Red Lion in attempt to option film rights

Estella- often thought to be "Mossy's girl" by his (and her) family and friends although their relationship is far more complex and evolving;  Estella's mother, far from being the cold bitter Ms. Havisham, is a gentler and more charming version of Downton Abbey's Dowager Countess....if she had been raised on a large Southern tobacco farm and she has always had a special place in her heart for Mossy.



The Magnificent Ambersons
(pic from the Orson Welles movie)

The Magnificent Ambersons:  so named due to their extraordinary success and influence.  Contrary to the Booth Tarkington Ambersons, the 5 sons here are all world beaters in their own right in fields such as medicine, law, politics, construction, and Information Technology.  The Good Doctor, a middle son, is Mossy's best friend later in life and sees himself as something of a big brother to Mossy. The family patriarch, Judge Amberson, is a political powerbroker who has often been summoned to  the White House and Camp David.  The Judge takes an active interest in Mossy's life and seeks to become a mentor.
Patrick Amberson aka The Good Doctor (actor Richard E. Grant)
The Queen B
(actress Laura Linney)

Queen B- like a sister to Mossy and charming hostess

Hank Montague aka The Master
(actor Anthony Hopkins)
Hank Montague aka The Master- reclusive author who hasn't published anything in over 40 years. published 4 novels in the 1960s to international critical acclaim and then vanished from the public eye. Mossy finds and befriends him and takes it upon himself (with the assistance of the Good Doctor) to nourish his body and soul back to health.

Editor Peter Jamison Jr whose late father was editor of Montague's early novels
(the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman)
Peter Jamison Jr- Editor whose father edited Montague's early novels who Mossy enlists to assist in Montague's comeback

Prince William of Bucktown- husband to Queen B whose successful marriage Mossy helped facilitate
Dutch
(actor Robert Carlyle)

Dutch- best drinking buddy to Mossy who is from a branch of a very prominent family whose surname always catches the attention of hot-on-the-make strivers. Frequently steps in (with the Good Doctor) to provide monetary assistance to the always broke Mossy.

Terence Bedford Jackson IV aka "Terry Drama" & "eye-vee"
(dust jacket pic of Truman Capote)

Terence Bedford Jackson IV aka 'Terry Drama' or "eye-vee"- by Terry's friends Mossy is sometimes referred to as "Terry's straight friend"; they often attend the Opera together or join Terry's Swans for bacchanalian lunches or drinks out that can sometimes find Mossy entangled with an 'attached' Swan....everybody that meets Terry mentions within the first two minutes how "you remind me of Truman Capote...." and yes the resemblance in every way (except when holding a pen) is uncanny.
The greatest author's note in the history of English Literature seems well placed here.
From Brideshead Revisited
suggested by Darling Jane Hattatt

© Copyright 2014 (excluding pictures) The Chicago Lion's Den and GSL

35 comments:

  1. G as usual your writing is so smart I have to give it another go-around, what a cast of characters! Your Estella is very beautiful isn't she? Also she can accessorize like no-one's business, love that necklace.
    That picture of Old Mossy circa 1971 might be my favourite, look at that glimmer of mischief: a sign of things to come.

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    1. Dani,
      Estella does have a very fine collection of jewelry both from her mother and what she has acquired on her own with lots of gorgeous Art Deco pieces and hardly ever wears any of it much to my (and her dear mother's) chagrin and she does still clean up quite well.

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  2. Looking forward to the first instalment, GSL.

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  3. I have always liked that author's note by Evelyn and I love that you have used it here. Can't wait to read what happens next, my dear GSL! XO, Jill

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  4. This sounds like it will be a lot of fun. Estella has been revealed! She is lovely. She won't be frustrated by our apathy...

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    1. While Estella can be quite frustrating she never incites apathy.

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  5. Your list of characters are top notch...
    Don't keep us waiting please fill in the blanks.

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    1. Thank you Hostess; the curtain rises tomorrow.

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  6. Of course Evelyn put that in Brideshead. It was to cover his tracks, although not particularly successfully given it was patently obvious who the main characters/ house were based upon.
    I can see why Emily is chomping at the bit to play Estella - she is a dead ringer for her!
    Love that Pic of Mossy circa 1971 too.
    Waiting with baited breath for the next instalment...

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    1. Heidi,
      I don't think EW's author's note was even intended to successfully cover his tracks but rather only to provide smirking 'cover'.
      About 5 years ago Estella and I decided that EB had overtaken a dark-haired Toni Collette.

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  7. Love this! And Estella is indeed a beauty!

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    1. You've made her day...she loves your style via Pinterest.

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  8. So looking forward to this. I'm sure it will display your literary talents to the max. Claire

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    1. Yes it will Claire and thank you for your patience.

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  9. Love the intro and look forward to the stories!!!

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  10. Replies
    1. Christian Slater has been commissioned to do the audio narration.

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  11. Away into the ether went another comment yesterday---I'm so fumblefingered, it's a wonder I can turn this thing on.

    Tom Hagen, the tilt of Hopkins' head, and those Cagney eyes---what a foundation, and THEN all the rest. What an ensemble, and I await each word with anticipation, knowing that the writing will be meet to the cast.

    Bated breath, gnawed nails. I love this already.

    r

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    1. Thank you Rachel...the superb ensemble cast has seen the script and hope they can measure up.

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  12. PS I neglected to mention the little blonde boy whose birthday is today, and who would have been just that age in 1971. I even remember that SHIRT.

    r

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    1. Pass along my best wishes to the birthday boy!

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  13. Let the fun begin! Excellent list of characters. I await the first installment with baited breath.

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  14. Emily is certainly an excellent choice to play Estella. My compliments to the casting director.

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    1. Curator, I had hoped (in vain) to get Emily over to discuss the role on the casting couch...

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  15. What a delightful ensemble cast you have gathered together to help tell your tale,dear G! I will keep this playbill for reference as I read.
    Your Estella is lovely and cannot wait to see her role! Queen B and her husband look like great fun...love LL!
    Can't wait for the curtain to go up!

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    1. I did think you'd like the casting darling Trudye...we often do see eye to eye on movies and fashion.

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  16. I'm looking forward to tomorrows debut. How exciting!

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    1. Post is up Duchess. Thanks for your interest.

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  17. oh good-let's start the show! I will steal away tomorrow and enjoy a front row seat.I don't want to miss a thing

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  18. Looking forward to all the fun. Checking in on Veterans day......xx

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