The suspects

The suspects for the meet and mingle version:

Book: Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

Alice

I don’t like to be rude, but after being in Wonderland, I can’t help thinking how very strange some people are. Dress suggestion: Dress as a little girl with pig tails in your hair and rosy cheeks.

Book: Cinderella

Cinderella

having been treated badly by my step-sisters, I know what it’s like to be a slave. So in the palace, I am kind to everyone – the servants included. Dress suggestion: Dress like a princess with tinsel/glitter or as a servant covered in cinders and carrying a broom or duster.

Book: Snow White by The Brothers Grimm

Snow White

I am a young lady with skin as white as snow, lips as red as blood and hair as black as ebony. I am friends with a bunch of dwarfs. Dress suggestion: Old-fashioned clothes such as a drawstring sash at the waist, puffy sleeves, flouncy skirt.

Book: Peter and Wendy by Sir James Matthew Barry

Peter Pan

I am the little boy who never grew up. I live in Never Never Land and I can fly. Sometimes I teach other children to fly with me. Dress suggestion: Dress with a green cap and a green outfit. You may wish to carry a toy sword.

Book: Little Red Riding Hood by various authors

Little Red Riding Hood

I am a fearless, but kind young girl who goes for walks alone in the woods. I love to visit my Grandma sometimes. Dress suggestions: A red hooded cape with a dress beneath (possibly also in red). Carry a basket with some little cakes or cookies in it. You are taking these to your grandmother.

Book: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum

Dorothy

I am a very determined young lady from a farm in Kansas. I don’t let anyone get in my way. My dog goes everywhere with me. Dress suggestions: A blue dress with a white blouse underneath. Add white socks and magic red shoes. If you can, add long black hair tied in two bows. Carry a toy dog.

Book: Goldilocks and the Three Bears by various authors

Goldilocks

I am a naughty and some say “spoiled” little girl. I always do exactly what I want. For example, I steal porridge and sleep in beds I don’t own. Dress suggestion: Cute little-girl clothes. Maybe tie a ribbon in your golden hair and wear a blue dress, a frilly white apron, red shoes and yellow socks. You may like to bring a bowl of porridge (oatmeal) with you.

Book: The Adventures of Aladdin by various authors

Aladdin

I changed from being a poor boy to a handsome prince and married a beautiful princess in a ‘great splendid palace’. Dress suggestion: Wear middle eastern clothes (eg baggy trousers). Sequins and jewels are acceptable as you are dripping with wealth.

The optional authorities

Master Sherlock Holmes (from Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) – I am a man with such superior detective skills that I have become world famous. I already know a lot about each of the suspects, just from looking at their appearance. For example, I can tell Alice is a little girl with a very fanciful imagination and Aladdin is from the Far East. But, I am not a great reader of fiction, I prefer to do chemical experiments and I also play the violin. This certainly does not seem like a normal case. It is more like the Mr Angel case. You may like to read about it in my diary, if you get time. Dress suggestions: Dress in old-fashioned clothes, carry a magnifying glass and a pipe.

Dr Watson (from Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) – I am a skilled doctor but I am also a bit of a cynic and a non-believer until something is proved true. I have great respect for Sherlock Holmes. Dress suggestions: Dress in old-fashioned clothes.

Mrs Bookworm (The librarian responsible for the cookie cupboard) – Although I try to be helpful, a lot of the children are afraid of me. I think it is because I am always telling them to be quiet in the library. But my bark is worse than my bite. I really love children. Dress suggestion: Spectacles, a chain around your neck with a key attached but hidden inside your blouse. A dress or skirt and blouse, but make sure whatever you wear has large pockets stuffed full of things.

Miss Marple (from Agatha Christie novels) – I am just an ordinary woman with a penchant for finding out the truth. Nothing goes unnoticed by me. Things are not what they seem. Dress suggestions: Old-fashioned clothes – very prim and proper. Carry your knitting.

The optional witnesses

Queen of Hearts (from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll) Oh there is so much to tell – all about the tea cups and my shouting “Off with his head! or “Off with her head” and all the other people Alice met in Wonderland, but it would take too long. Alice comes into the library and looks at the children’s books. Dress suggestions: Wear white & stick big red cardboard hearts on your clothes.

White Rabbit (from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll) `Silence in the court!’ I am a very busy rabbit. “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!” Dress suggestions: As a white rabbit. Wear a waistcoat and have a pocket-watch hanging out of it. Consult it often. Also wear spectacles. Add a white fluffy bottom and some rabbit ears.

Mad Hatter (from Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll) `If you knew Time as well as I do,’ `you wouldn’t talk about wasting IT. It’s HIM.’ `It’s always tea-time, and we’ve no time to wash the things between whiles.’ Dress suggestions: Wear a very large hat. Also carry a pocket watch in your waistcoat and a tea cup. Dunk the watch in the cup from time to time. Ask riddles you don’t know the answer to.

The Fairy Godmother (from Cinderella) After working all day on her chores, Cinderella often wondered if she would ever be happy again. The ladies of her household were invited to the Duke’s ball. But Cinderella’s step-mother said she could not go unless her chores were done. Fortunately, I came to Cinderella’s aid and – well, you all know the rest of the story. Dress suggestions: Dress like a fairy complete with wings and a wand with which to grant wishes.

Step-Mother (from Cinderella) I am a proud woman and I have two daughters and Cinderella is my step-daughter. We call her “Cinderwench” or “Cinderella” because she sits amongst the cinders after she does her work. Dress suggestions: Dress like a very wealthy lady (eg a long flowing dress with nice jewellery and long gloves).

The Queen (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) I dressed as an ‘old pedlar woman’ and sold Snow White some lace for her waist. Then I laced her up so tight, she `lost … (her) breath, and fell down as dead.’ Unfortunately, the seven dwarfs soon returned and cut the lace in two, so that she could draw breath. I knew she wasn’t dead because my mirror told me so, so I came again with a poisoned apple. The dwarfs thought Snow White was dead. A prince saw her and carried her away. Then the apple fell out of her mouth and she came back to life and they married. Dress suggestions: Dress as a queen with a crown and a long gown. Add a nasty face mask.

Bashful Dwarf (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) I live in a clearing in a cottage which Snow White found had a “tiny door, tiny windows and a tiny chimney pot. Everything about the cottage was much tinier than it ought to be.” I am not any tinier than the other dwarfs, but I am shy. Dress suggestions: Wear a little red cap and carry some tools to work with in the mine. But always hide in the corner or turn your back to everyone or pull your cap down over your face, because you are so painfully shy.

Happy Dwarf (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) When Snow White appeared she cooked for us and put “a bowl of hot steaming soup on the table, and (made) the whole house spick and span”. No wonder I am so happy having had someone like her caring for me. Dress suggestions: Wear a little red cap and carry some tools to work with in the mine. Always have a big smile upon your face. Maybe make your smile bigger by drawing some extra smile lines at the corners of your mouth.

Grumpy Dwarf (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) I appreciate Snow White taking care of us, but that doesn’t mean I’m in a good mood. Dress suggestions: Wear a little red cap and carry some tools to work with in the mine. Always look grumpy. Maybe draw frown lines at the corners of your mouth.

Doc Dwarf (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) I am the smartest of the dwarfs. Dress suggestions: Wear a little red cap and carry some tools to work with in the mine.

Sleepy Dwarf (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) I always feel sleepy. Dress suggestions: Wear a little red cap and carry some tools to work with in the mine. Look sleepy.

Sneezy Dwarf (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) I’m always sneezing. Dress suggestions: Wear a little red cap and carry some tools to work with in the mine. Carry a handkerchief to sneeze into.

Dopey Dwarf (from Snow White by The Brothers Grimm) I’m a bit slow and dopey. Dress suggestions: Wear a little red cap and carry some tools to work with in the mine. Look dopey.

Tinkerbell (from Peter and Wendy by Sir James Matthew Barry) There is also a crocodile that follows us about that has a clock inside his belly going tick, tick, tick. I used my magic fairy dust to help Peter Pan and Wendy and the others to fly. On the island there are lots of fairies. “When the first baby laughed for the very first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about and that was the beginning of the fairies.” Dress suggestions: Dress as a golden fairy with a little bell you always ring as you move about.

Wendy (from Peter and Wendy by Sir James Matthew Barry) I am Wendy Darling. Peter started to visit us at night and then he took my brothers and I with him to Never Never Land. Dress suggestions: Dress in old-fashioned little-girl clothes. Have your hair tied in two pig-tails with pretty ribbon.

Crocodile (from Peter and Wendy by Sir James Matthew Barry) Peter flung Captain Hook’s arm towards me so I ate it. I have followed Captain Hook about “ever since, from sea to sea and from land to land, licking (my) lips for the rest of” him. I also swallowed a clock so they know when I am about because of my tick. Dress suggestions: Dress like a crocodile with a large mouth and lots of teeth. Also carry a hidden loud ticking clock.

Wicked Witch of the West (from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum) Even though I only have one eye, I am still very powerful and very evil. I have a silver whistle around my neck and when I blow it, a pack of wolves comes to help me destroy people or make them my slaves. Dress suggestions: Dress as a witch complete with broomstick, green skin and pointy hat.

Wizard of Oz (from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum) To get to my place you follow the yellow brick road. People think that I can accomplish anything. Dorothy and her friends came to see me. The Scarecrow was in search of a brain. They all expected me to wave a magic wand and to solve their problems for them, but I didn’t. Dress suggestions: A wizard’s outfit with stars and the moon on it and with a long pointy hat.

Scarecrow (from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum) I was very upset because I didn’t think I had the intelligence to be able to capture the Wicked Witch. But we did succeed and so we returned to see the Wizard, only to find he wasn’t really able to do anything. But he did point out to us that we already possessed what we sought. I already had a brain. I just had to start using it. Dress suggestions: Dress as a scarecrow with bits of straw coming out of your torn and tattered clothes (eg check flannel shirt and blue overalls).

The Tin Woodman (from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum) I followed the yellow brick road looking for a heart. Dress suggestions: Dress as a tin man. Maybe carry a heart shape.

The Lion (from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum) I followed the yellow brick road looking for courage. Dress suggestions: Dress as a lion.

The Grandmother (from Little Red Riding Hood) The Big Bad Wolf locked me in the cupboard. So Little Red Riding Hood, said to the Wolf who was sitting in bed dressed in my nightgown, ‘Why, Granny…what big eyes you have got.’ And the wolf said, ‘The better to see you with, my child,’ imitating my voice. I won’t bore you with the rest as you have probably all heard the story. Most versions of the story end happily with Little Red Riding Hood being saved from the wolf’s clutches by her father and the woodcutters. Dress suggestions: A long nightgown with a bed-jacket and a bonnet on your head.

The Wolf  (from Little Red Riding Hood) When Little Red Riding Hood saw me dressed in her Grandmother’s bonnet, she said “O, Granny, what great–big–teeth–you’ve–got!”  And I said, “The better to eat you up!” Dress suggestions: Dress in a bed-jacket with a bonnet on your head but add some ears and large teeth so everyone knows you are a wolf.

The Woodcutter (from Little Red Riding Hood) I am Little Red Riding Hood’s father. Dress suggestions: Dress in working clothes and carry an axe or similar.

Papa Bear (from Goldilocks and the Three Bears) Goldilocks tasted my porridge, sat in my chair and lay on my bed. But she found my porridge too hot and my chair and my bed too hard. Dress suggestions: Dress as a large-sized father bear but with normal clothes on top.

Mamma Bear (from Goldilocks and the Three Bears) Goldilocks tasted my porridge, sat in my chair and lay on my bed. But she found my porridge too cold and my chair and my bed too soft. Dress suggestions: Dress as a medium-sized mother bear but with normal clothes on top.

Baby Bear (from Goldilocks and the Three Bears) I am the innocent victim of Goldilocks. She ate my porridge, broke my chair and I found her asleep in my bed. Dress suggestions: A little bear but with normal clothes on top.

Princess Halima (from The Adventures of Aladdin) I am the Sultan’s daughter. Aladdin glimpsed me in my sedan chair when I was being carried through the streets. He decided he wanted to marry me. Dress suggestions: Wear middle eastern clothes. Add lots of pretty veils. Sequins and jewels are acceptable as you are dripping with wealth.

The Genie (from The Adventures of Aladdin) I helped Aladdin to become a prince. I live in Aladdin’s magic lamp. Dress suggestions: Wear middle eastern clothes (eg baggy trousers) and a turban. Carry the lamp in which you live.

Characters from other books

Rapunzel (Rapunzel by The Brothers Grimm) I have magnificent long hair, fine as spun gold, and I unfastened my braided tresses, wound them round one of the hooks of the window above, and then my hair fell twenty ells down, and my rescuer climbed up by it. Dress suggestion: Old-fashioned clothes and a golden-haired wig braided.

Pinocchio (Pinocchio by Carlo Lorenzini/Carlo Collodi) When I was a puppet I lied a lot, but the Good Fairy taught me not to and to be good. ‘How stupid I was as a puppet. And how glad I am to be a real live boy.’ When I lied my nose became so long I ‘could not move without banging it against the walls or door.’ Geppetto sold his coat to buy me a spelling book for school. I sold it to go to the puppet theatre. Then I saved a puppet from being burnt by the showman and the showman gave me coins for my father. Dress suggestions: A red jacket with a white frill-necked shirt. Make a pencil nose out of cardboard.

Geppetto (from Pinocchio by Carlo Lorenzini) A fox and a cat told Pinocchio he could multiply his money in “The Field of Miracles”. A bird and the ghost of the cricket tried to warn him not to. The evil fox and cat hung him in a tree to die, but the Good Fairy saved him. But Pinocchio still let them fool him into burying his money so it would grow. So they stole it. Dress suggestions: Old-fashioned clothes. Wear a workman’s apron with a few tools poking out of pockets. You may also smell fishy because of your time in the belly of a whale.

Thumbeline (from Thumbeline by Hans Christian Andersen) I was born to be very, very tiny, no bigger than a lady’s thumb and I slept in a lacquered walnut shell with a rose petal coverlet. I was stolen by an ugly toad that wanted me to marry her son. Yuk!! Some fish helped me escape and I had many adventures. I ended up spending the winter with a kind field mouse, but she wanted me to marry the neighboring boring old mole. After befriending a poor injured swallow because we were both great singers, he flew me off to his home. Poor Swallow had fallen in love with me, but when he put me on a beautiful white flower there was the King of the spirits of the flowers already there. Naturally we fell in love and lived happily ever after. Dress suggestions: Old fashioned, delicate long dress. Braid you hair and wear flowers in it. Speak with a tiny voice.

Mrs Elinor Ferrars (from Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen) – I am a lady with such sense and sensibilities as to have proper regard for all who become my worthy acquaintance. Dress suggestions: Wear a long dress or a skirt and long blouse buttoned to the top. You may like to tie your hair tight in a bun. Dress very conservatively.

Oliver Twist (from Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens) –  At the workhouse, I lived on “the smallest portion of the weakest food possible.” Later I went  to London. The people I lodged with turned out to be none other than a gang of thieves, but I did not realize it till later. Dress suggestions: Dress as a pauper with lots of holes in your clothes and grime. A bit of soot on your face would not go astray.

Lady Macbeth (from Macbeth by William Shakespeare) – My late husband was briefly King of Scotland. But my husband’s nature was “too full o’ the milk of human kindness”. In the end the madness caused me to take my own life and my husband was slain by the sword of Macduff. So now I a widow be. Dress suggestions: Wear a long dress with lots of petticoats. Dress wealthily.

Puss in Boots (a fairytale by various authors) I was given to the youngest son of a miller. He wasn’t very happy to get just a cat. So I convinced him to give me some boots and a bag and told him I could be pretty handy. Over a period of time I caught prey, which I gave to the King to gain favor for my master. The King happened to have a very beautiful daughter. She and my master fell in love so it was up to me to make him rich so he could marry her. I did this by tricking a rich ogre to turn into a mouse which I promptly ate leaving all the estates and castle to be taken over by my young master. After that I led a really restful life. Dress suggestions: A large hat with a large feather (like a peacock’s) in the band. As big a pair of boots as you can find. An old fashioned, three-quarter length coat.

Cleopatra (from Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare) – I am queen of that fair country Egypt. O! my oblivion is very Antony (Marc Antony), and I am all forgotten. He married Octavia, Caesar’s sister to please Caesar. My anger at hearing this, was such that it would “melt Egypt into Nile!” Dress suggestions: Wear loosely draped material to form a toga. Make your face white with powder. You may like to draw Egyptian symbols or pyramids and the like on your clothes.

Don Quixote (from Don Quixote of the Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes) – I am a knight-errant. I go throughout the land “offering… (myself) to occasions and dangers, which, being once happily achieved, might gain …(me) eternal renown”. I am also fulfilling my duty to mankind. I do it all for my “Dulcinea de Toboso”. Dress suggestions: Dress as a knight with swords and armor and the like. Make it as over the top as you can.

Joan of Arc (from books on the history of France) – I was born a French peasant in Domremy, Champagne. When I was about 13, I began to hear the voices of the saints who told me that I had the mission of liberating France from England’s domination. When I was 18, after being tested by a group of theologians, Charles placed his troops under my command. During my rule, they were successful against the British. Dress suggestions: Dress as a soldier but also as a saint. You may like to wear a rosary or carry the stake on which you were burned.

Dracula (from Dracula by Bram Stoker) – Although appearing a true gentleman, I sometime takes the form of wolf, bat and, of course, blood-sucking vampire. I have “peculiarly sharp white teeth” which protrude over my ruddy lips. Dress suggestions: Dress in the clothes of a gentleman but you may like to add fake blood, red lipstick, white powder on your face and, of course, very long canine teeth.

Dr Frankenstein (Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) – Many know how I gathered various body parts from graveyards and the like. It is true that I was foolish in my quest to create a living being. I remember the night when my creature came to life: “I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limbs”. Dress suggestions: Old-fashioned period clothes. Don a laboratory coat and some strange tools.

The Monster (Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley) –  But even though Frankenstein had spent so much time and effort creating me, he found me so horrible, he ran in revolt. I reeked of the dead that had been used to create me. Dress suggestions: Wear clothes that look stitched together and draw some stitches on your brow.

Huck Finn (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain) I’m a good boy – honest. Me Pap – he kidnapped me, but I escaped. But before I left, I killed me a pig and made it look like I’d been murdered. Then I hid on Jackson Island, but I found out I wasn’t alone – Jim had run away. So we floated down the river on a raft at night and slept and fished all day. Dress suggestions:Dress as a country bumpkin with bits of hay sticking out of your clothes and a beaten up old hat. Wear old rags, possibly made out of bags.

Tom Sawyer (from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain) I am Huck Finn’s friend and advisor. Dress suggestions: Dress as a country bumpkin with bits of hay sticking out of your clothes and a beaten up old hat.

Robin Hood (Robin Hood by various authors) I am a wealthy man who has been forced to become a thief. I steal from the rich and give to the poor. The poor of England were being asked for too many taxes. The taxes were required to fund various political battles overseas. I simply gave back to the poor the money that they had had unfairly taken away from them in the first place. Dress suggestions: Dress in period clothes, a cape and a mask.

Maid Marian (from Robin Hood) Although I am a lady, I am also able to fight like a man. I love Robin dearly. Dress suggestions: Although you are a lady when you want to be, you should don trousers, a frilly shirt and carry a bow and arrow or a sword.

Friar Tuck (from Robin Hood) I am a very portly and short but strong monk. I was an adversary of Robin Hood but I have since become his loyal supporter. Although I am of religious vocation, I am not a weak man. Dress suggestions: A long brown gown with white sash and a cross on a pendant. Add stuffing to make your belly round.