CAST of CHARACTERS
The Chayotes
If you've already read the book, you've created an image in your mind of what the characters look like. If you want to keep those images intact, don't scroll down!
But if you want to keep track of who's who and who's in the band, please proceed.
Or maybe you're just curious what recognizable celebrities I blended together and added a few grey hairs and wrinkles to for my own visualization. Then here you go: The cast that wrote themselves into the story.
IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
- Thørnn (Thorston K. Philbin) aka “Stone” – Burned out, pampered, and not getting any younger, this hair band era rock star becomes unrecognizable unshaven and without his long blonde stage wig to cover his dark but greying short hair.
(Sift together Ben Stiller, David Grohl, Hugh Grant, Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves and stir vigorously. Tack on a David Coverdale/Whitesnake wig for performances.) - Seymour Cranston – As Thørnn’s/Stone’s long-time, controlling LA manager, he pushes his search for Stone into a panicky overdrive.
(Combine hints of Jason Alexander with a dash of Martin Short.) - Nelli (License Plate: WONELLI) – Stone’s 2013 Lamborghini Aventador in special order viola shimmer has sentient qualities that often manipulate the ride’s outcome.
(Picture a low to the ground sweet hell on wheels with a side of guardian angel.) - Lexi (Jacqueline Alexis Stephens) – Stiff, snippy and biased civil servant by day, emancipated vocalist by night, a tenant at the Silver Springs Road ranch.
(Blend notes of Drew Barrymore with Julianne Moore then infuse with Kathleen Turner and a sprinkling of Stevie Nicks for a messy cocktail.) - “Ranger Sam” (Sam Ramirez) – Lexi’s contraband chayote supplier, eavesdropping coworker, and unintentional malware sampler.
(Danny Trejo collaged with John Denver.) - Reggie (Reginauld) no last name… – Surfer-drifter who accepts Nelli in exchange for his bike and cart (for ten days), resembles Thørnn’s (wigged) rock star image when he cleans up. With a damaged relationship in his past, he has a thing for Dewey and a dream to capture her heart and be a surf instructor.
(Imagine Robert Plant and Taylor Hawkins but more Taylor in the later chapters.) - Harper Kelly – Irish-born/Australian-raised lighthearted Sheriff’s deputy who mixes his ethnic slang terms regularly, extra observant ranch tenant, old friend of Tilly’s (it’s not what you think).
(Think Liam Neeson, Anthony LaPaglia and Bryan Brown.) - “Maytag” (Joe) – Spiritual drifter mentor? Biblical revisiting being? Stone’s imagination? He’s none of those but no spoilers here.
(A little bit Prince, part Morgan Freeman and Jesus.) - “Dewey” Deux Doigts – Raised in Big Sur by an ornithology artist and a horticulturist possessing a fraction of Chumash heritage, this 40-year-old free-spirited waitress at Nepenthe goes along for the ride with Reggie and Nelli and inspires a musical proposition from Mr. Chool.
(Buffy Sainte-Marie with a little Bo Derek in her “10” years stirred in.) - Butt & Whiff – The chayote-planting Australian cattle dogs who have meaningful conversations in their heads and unwittingly coax the “Jack-and-the-Beanstalk” type growth of the squash.
(Envision “Dog” from Mad Max 2 and “Zip” from Last of the Dogmen.) - The Band: (with the addition of Stone & Lexi)
- Johnny Gibson – Owner of a ranch that produces pickleweed but not weed-weed, hosts regular jam sessions in his barn. Pushing 70, band leader, lead and bass guitar, heavy on the wah-wah pedal, lead vocals.
(Picture if Richard Gere and Dan Fogelberg were brothers with another brother from another mother.) - Cooper “Coupe” DeVille – 40’s something handy man and ranch tenant with partner Cindy Sue, concert opportunity researcher, dream supporter, drummer.
(Basically Kenny G after a Carrot Cake 6.5 Copper Brown dye job.) - Cindy Sue Bilou – Coupe’s partner, cat fur textile artist, tambourine, cowbell, maracas and… what? She can play the ____? (No spoilers here.)
(Merge Jennifer Tilly and her voice with Sandra Oh.) - Hope Fiendly – Retired fisherman, secret songwriter, bass guitarist, divorced lesbian in a love triangle with other band members?
(Mix a mature Andrea True with Brandi Carlile and touch of Nancy Wilson.) - Karo Von Dame – Owner of the Washed Ashore second-hand store, stocker at The Greens Goddess, early 60s, mostly single. Skilled in guitar, fiddle, ukulele, cello, keyboards, drums, most wind instruments, vocals.
(A blending of Carole King, Parker Pose, and Suze Quatro.) - Randall “Rand” McNally – Grumpy retired land developer, divorced wife was friends with Tilly, keyboards, drummer, short-lived garage band past.
(Visualize Harry Shearer’s “Derek Smalls” shaken with Leon Redbone.)
- Johnny Gibson – Owner of a ranch that produces pickleweed but not weed-weed, hosts regular jam sessions in his barn. Pushing 70, band leader, lead and bass guitar, heavy on the wah-wah pedal, lead vocals.
- The Rest:
- Tilly Gibson – Johnny’s wife, ranch property manager, semi-retired friend of Harper.
(A hybrid of Eva Longoria and Marisa Tomei.) - Officer Forsythe (special guest appearances) – California Highway Patrol officer, secret admirer of Dewey.
(Somewhat of a Will Ferrell in a crisp uniform.) - Mr. Chool “Chooly” – Manager of the Effin’ Rock Concert in Monterey, meets Reggie & Dewey at the Pebble Beach Golf Course, why is it the managers are the antagonists in this story?
(A little, pun intended, Frank DiLeo with a shaker of Danny DeVito.)
Martimsreynolds.com 