Folly to Be Wise

Army chaplain and Entertainments Officer who initiates the brains trust to entertain troops. He aims to keep discussions non-controversial yet flexible enough to reveal character. Paris positions himself as the mediator who tries to preserve order during escalating disputes.

A local social figure who helps assemble the panel and supports the morale effort. She embodies the connection between aristocratic influence and wartime community activities. Her involvement signals the blend of high society with camp life.

A popular BBC radio personality who is opinionated and self-serving. He dominates discussions with personality and intellect, sometimes at odds with others. His role exposes the vanity and opportunism behind public intellectuals.

Angela Prout's husband, a cold man who verbally abuses his wife. He embodies domestic volatility and the fragility of marriages under social scrutiny. His behavior challenges the ideal of civil discourse during the event.

Mrs. Prout, wife of George Prout, who is revealed to be involved with the Professor. Her private life complicates the group dynamics and tests loyalties within the Prout circle. She represents the complexity of relationships under the public gaze.

The hard-of-hearing doctor on the brains trust panel. He provides comic counterpoints and practical perspectives, offering a more measured voice than more flamboyant panelists. His presence adds balance to the debates.

A local Labour MP whose presence on the panel provokes offense and conflict. He represents political friction and the risk of controversy overshadowing entertainment. His presence heightens the stakes of the discussion.

Paris's secretary who helps organize the event and raises the marriage question that sparks the conflict. She embodies the role of a catalyst who pushes conversations toward sensitive topics. Her presence drives the plot's turning points.

A minor participant in the Prouts' circle during the Prout residence scenes. He appears as part of the social milieu but is not central to the main conflicts described in the summary.

A military drill sergeant present among the troops, grounding the setting in a camp environment. His authoritative presence contrasts with the panel's chaotic debate. He represents the disciplined, regimented side of army life.

A rank-and-file drill corporal who underscores the soldiers' daily routines. His presence reminds the audience of the constant military rhythm that frames the brains trust events. He contributes to the camp atmosphere with practical, no-nonsense energy.

A member of the brains trust or audience who embodies the more thoughtful, reflective voice among the troops. He represents the intellectual current within the group and helps shape the discussion with ideas.

A soldier present in the Rose and Crown scene, contributing to the lively atmosphere of the pub. He represents the blend of military life with civilian spaces during downtime.

A member of the Brains Trust audience who reacts to the discussion and participates in the crowd energy. He helps convey the collective mood of the room.