Lysander’s father and an unmerry widower. Headmaster of Fleetley — a top English public school.
DINAH HAWKLEY
An old soak, and the widow of David Hawkley’s much older brother, Alastair.
HEINZ
A colourless assistant conductor at the London Met.
THE REVEREND PERCIVAL HILLARY
A portly parson who confines his pastoral visits to drinks time.
JOY HILLARY
His wife. A bossy boots.
BEATTIE JOHNSON
A seductive, totally unprincipled journalist.
FREDDIE JONES
Electronics supremo and director of Venturer Television.
BORIS LEVITSKY
A glamorous, temperamental composer who defected from Russia in the eighties. Assistant conductor at the London Met and lover of red wine, red meat and red-blooded women.
RACHEL LEVITSKY
His English wife. A concert pianist who has sacrificed her career to bring up two children: Vanya and Masha. Performs under her maiden name, Rachel Grant.
LARRY LOCKTON
Chief Executive of Catchitune Records and a rough diamond.
MARIGOLD LOCKTON
His once-ravishing wife, who is finding to her cost that rough diamonds are not for ever.
ISAAC LOVELL
A brilliant jump jockey.
SHERRY MACARTHY
A ravishing neglected American wife.
GEORGIE MAGUIRE
A sixties singer/songwriter and sex symbol. Slightly long-in-the-capped tooth, but poised for a massive come-back.
DANCER MAITLAND
A rock star.
MARCIA MELLING
A susceptible divorcee, one of Rupert Campbell-Black’s owners.
OSWALDO
A colourful guest conductor of the London Met.
MR PANDOPOULOS
Another of Rupert Campbell-Black’s owners.
MRS PIGGOTT
Georgie Maguire’s daily. Nicknamed Mother Courage because of her fondness for a pint of beer.
ROBERTO RANNALDINI
One of the world’s greatest conductors. Musical director of the London Met and a very evil genius.
KITTY RANNALDINI
His much younger third wife who runs his life like clockwork.
WOLFGANG RANNALDINI
Rannaldini’s son from his first marriage, a good sort.
NATASHA RANNALDINI
Rannaldini’s daughter from his second marriage: a handful in all senses of the word.
CECILIA RANNALDINI
Rannaldini’s second wife and a world famous diva. Given to throwing plates and tantrums.
GUY SEYMOUR
A bishop’s son and Georgie Maguire’s very decent and rather unlikely husband. Owner of London art gallery and nurser of talent.
FLORA SEYMOUR
Guy’s and Georgie’s wild child.
MEREDITH WHALEN
A highly expensive gay interior designer, known as the Ideal Homo because he’s always being asked as a spare man for deserted wives at Paradise dinner parties.
ELMER WINTERTON
American Security billionaire. Chief executive of Safus Houses Inc. and a philandering Palm Beach polo patron.
MARTHA WINTERTON
His ravishing neglected second wife.
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