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Cast In Order Of Disappearance
by Simon Brett



Simon Brett - Cast In Order Of Disappearance

BBC Radio 4

'Cast in Order of Disappearance' is a light-hearted frolic but at the same time has beautifully ingenious puzzles buzzing with fun and wit about a middle-aged actor, who keeps going on booze and women, deciding to take to detection.

Who killed Marius Steen, the theatrical tycoon with a fortune to leave to his young mistress Jacqui? And who killed Bill Sweet, the shady blackmailer with a supply of compromising photographs? Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor, who keeps going on booze and women, takes to detection by assuming a variety of roles including that of a Scotland Yard Detective-Sergeant. The results are both comic and dramatic. As the mythical McWirther of the Yard, he actually precipitates the crime; as one of the blackmailer's victims he finds himself in bed with the blackmailer's wife; as a small part player in a horror film ('The Zombie Walks'), he gets shot at by the murderer. And he arrives at the solution by way of the petrol crisis and an abortive attack of German measles.

Dramatised in six parts by Simon Brett from his 1975 novel, "Cast in Order of Disappearance", the first in the Charles Paris series.

Directed by Martin Fisher.



1) 'Baron Hard-Up' (Wednesday 16th May 1984)

Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor, who keeps going on booze and women, takes to detection by assuming a variety of roles including that of a Scotland Yard Detective-Sergeant. The results are both comic and dramatic. It all begins with Charles meeting a former girlfriend who has a problem.

With Francis Matthews [Charles Paris, a 48-year-old Actor/Playwright], Fiona Hendley [Jacqui Mitchell, Marius's young mistress], Jennifer Hilary [Frances, Charles's Estranged Wife of 12 Years - a Schoolmistress], Harry Landis [Maurice Skellern, Charles's Agent], Mark Straker [Barman at the BBC Club], James Bryce [Norman, an Actor], Peter Tuddenham [Len (Stage Name: Sherlock Foster), Member of the BBC Repertory Company], and Paul Leighton [The Television Newsreader].

30 minutes



2) 'Transformation Scene' (Wednesday 23rd May 1984)

In the fuel crisis winter of 1973/74, Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor, has met a former girlfriend, the dancer Jacqui. She's worried because her current lover, the elderly impressario Marius Steen, refuses to see her and she fears that this is because compromising photographs of her and Steen were taken at a party which has become the subject of a court case. Jacqui has bought the photographs and has persuaded Charles to try and deliver them to the elusive Marius Steen. Charles first effort to make contact takes him backstage at the Dryden Theatre.

With Francis Matthews [Charles Paris], Fiona Hendley [Jacqui Mitchell], Timothy Carlton [Bernard Walton, a popular TV Actor], Lynda Baron [Mrs. Sweet, Blackmailer's Wife], Sandra Clark [Joanne Menzies, Marius's Secretary], Victor Maddern [Harry Chiltern, an old, retired Comedian], Maggie McCarthy [Margaret "Maggie" Leslie, an Actress / A Swedish Au Pair, Charles's Neighbour], Hilda Schroder [Nurse at Retirement Home], Peter Tuddenham [George, the Stage Doorman at the Dryden Theatre], and Robert Booth [The Radio News Reader].

30 minutes



3) 'Inside the Giant's Castle' (Wednesday 30th May 1984)

In the fuel crisis winter of 1973/74 Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor, has agreed to help a former girlfriend Jacqui make contact with her current lover, the impressario Marius Steen. Jacqui believes that Steen is trying to break off with her because of some pornographic photographs taken of the two of them together. Charles, already disturbed by the impressario's reputation for violence, is futher worried when he discovers that a motorist shot dead on the M4 a week previously was Bill Sweet, the man who took the compromising photographs and who was almost definitely blackmailing Marius Steen.

With Francis Matthews [Charles Paris], Fiona Hendley [Jacqui Mitchell], Richard Morant [Nigel Steen, Marius's Son], Lynda Baron [Mrs. Sweet], David Dixon [Miles, Juliet's Husband - an Insurance Executive], Wendy Murray [Juliet, Charles's Daughter], Mark Jones [Taxi Driver], and Peter Tuddenham [Marius Steen, a 68-year-old Impresario].

30 minutes



4) 'Enter the Funny Policeman' (Wednesday 6th June 1984)

In the fuel crisis winter of 1973/74 Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor, has agreed to help a former girlfriend, the dancer Jacqui, by delivering some pornographic photographs to her current lover, the elderly impressario Marius Steen. Having failed to make contact in London, Charles tries at Steen's country house in Speatly. Twice he's called and finds no one at home. On his third attempt, accompanied by Jacqui, he breaks into the house after dark only to find Marius Steen lying dead in his bed. Before Charles has time to investigate further, he and Jacqui are frightened off by the arrival of a car at the house and they return to Jacqui's flat the next morning.

With Francis Matthews [Charles Paris], Fiona Henley [Jacqui Mitchell], Jeremy Child [Gerald Venables, Charles's Solicitor], Anthony Newlands [Bartlemas, a Theatrical Collector], Alec Bregonzi [O'Rourke, a Theatrical Collector], Harry Landis [Maurice Skellern], Sandra Clark [Joanne Menzies], Peter Tuddenham [Marius Steen], Peter Cleall [Morrison, Marius's Chauffeur], and Geoffrey Collins [Waiter].

30 minutes



5) 'Slapstick Scene' (Wednesday 13th June 1984)

It's the end of 1973. Marius Steen, the theatrical impressario, has been found dead apparently of natural causes. But his young girlfriend, Jacqui, is suspicious and has enlisted the help of middle-aged actor, Charles Paris, in investigating the death. She suspects Nigel Steen, the impressario's heir, of his father's murder and is encouraged by the discovery of a new will made by Marius Steen in her favour.

With Francis Matthews [Charles Paris], Fiona Hendley [Jacqui Mitchell], Harry Fowler [Jean-Luc Roussel, Film Director for 'The Zombie Walks'], Richard Morant [Nigel Steen, Marius's Son], Jeremy Child [Gerald Venables], Sandra Clark [Joanne Menzies], Nigel Graham [Garth, an Actor in 'The Zombie Walks'], Eileen Tully [Jean-Luc's P.A.], and Mark Jones [Eric, Nigel Steen's 'Heavy']. Other parts played by members of the cast.

30 minutes



6) 'King Rat' (Wednesday 20th June 1984)

In the winter of 1973/74 Charles Paris, a middle-aged actor, has been helping a young dancer, Jacqui, investigate the death of her elderly lover the impressario Marius Steen. In spite of the findings of an autopsy, Jacqui is convinced that Marius was murdered by his son Nigel and makes no secret of her suspicions. The child she's expecting will, when born, inherit part of Marius Steen's fortune and an attempt has already been made to make her fall down stairs and miscarry. Now, Charles Paris too has been victim of sabotage on the set of a horror film, he's been shot in the arm. After hospital treatment he goes to stay with his daughter Juliet but by next morning, she, worried by his condition, has sent for the doctor.

With Francis Matthews [Charles Paris], Fiona Hendley [Jacqui Mitchell], Richard Morant [Nigel Steen], Jeremy Child [Gerald Venables], Sandra Clark [Joanne Menzies], John Strickland [Dr. Marsh / Taxi Driver], Nigel Graham [Keith, 'Evening Standard' Journalist], and Mark Jones [Eric].

30 minutes

Jim

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