Posted by:
robert (---.lnse4.cht.bigpond.net.au)
The average would be three.
There is usually the chief bad guy (quite often an evil spirit of chaos), another bad guy with whom he confers (so that from these conversations the audience gets the gist of what he is doing and why) and a henchman who enacts the plans.
The male 'hero' has to be played by a female (of course) and after the transformation scene (if we want to go really traditional) this then is played by Harlequin (could be either male or female).
There are usually a couple of roles for 'dames' - older female roles played by older male actors of outstanding repute, talent and skill. Ahem. <whistles nonchalantly, idly toeing the ground, waiting for tap on the shoulder>