# VI explained — The Good Companions

> Chapter companion for The Good Companions by J. B. Priestley.

## What happens

Susie Dean writes a letter to her friend Kitty Mackay, declining an offer to join a show in South Africa. She explains her commitment to 'The Good Companions,' describing the troupe's members and their recent success in Luddenstall. She highlights the mysterious benefactor who revived the show, the loyalty of the Brundits, Jimmy Nunn, Jerry Jerningham, and the new pianist Inigo Jollifant, as well as the property man Jess Oakroyd and the eccentric Morton Mitcham. Susie expresses hope for future success and reaffirms her dedication to the company.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Belonging

Susie expresses strong loyalty to The Good Companions, describing them as a family and choosing to stay despite a lucrative offer.

### Adventure and Self-Discovery

Susie dreams of travel and future success, while Jess Oakroyd's desire to go to Canada reflects a longing for new beginnings.

## Character check-ins

### Susie Dean

Writes a letter to Kitty Mackay, explaining her decision to stay with The Good Companions and describing the troupe's members.

### Inigo Jollifant

Described as the new pianist, a former schoolmaster from Cambridge, writing excellent numbers for Susie.

### Jess Oakroyd

Mentioned as the property man and stage carpenter, a Yorkshireman who wants to go to Canada to see his daughter Lily.

### Jerry Jerningham

Noted as still with the troupe, popular with local girls but unchanged in his vanity and limited talent.

### Morton Mitcham

Described as a banjoist and conjurer picked up on the road, a champion liar who tells tall tales.

## Key lines

> But I have simply got to go on with this Good Companions show just now—it’s been made out of the ruins of Mildenhall’s rotten old Dinky Doos—an angel of a woman, very erect, y’know, and tweedy, and straight out of the Old Moated Grange from Little Widdleton-on-the-Wortleberry yes, the real thing—popped up from nowhere in a car—blushed a bit and looked very brave—paid everything and started us off again, all on her own, not knowing the first thing about it!

Susie explains that The Good Companions was formed from the remains of a failed show, thanks to a kind, tweedy woman who appeared unexpectedly, paid all the debts, and relaunched the troupe despite having no experience.

_Highlights the mysterious benefactor's role in reviving the company, a key event in the troupe's formation._

> He is our property man and stage carpenter—a little Yorkshireman, not little really but you think of him being little because he is such a darling—and he too popped up from nowhere and is now one of the family

Susie describes Jess Oakroyd as the stage carpenter, a kind Yorkshireman who joined the troupe unexpectedly and became like family.

_Emphasizes Jess's integration into the group and his affectionate nature._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_good_companions_se/chapters/vi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_good_companions_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_good_companions_se/chapters