sentence: roles author/sir ruthven glenaloon/bus conductor ( baritone ) -- thomas german reed the spirit of romance/gripper ( bass ) -- r. corney grain herbert de browne ( tenor ) -- arthur cecil alice grey ( soprano ) -- fanny holland lady rockalda ( contralto ) -- priscilla german reed synopsis act i arthur cecil as herbert de browne in the first '' volume '' , an author of sensation novels , despite having entered into a supernatural contract with the spirit of romance , is suffering from writer 's block .