(In Order of Appearance)
Act I
DOCTOR DANIEL WEBSTER AUTRY – A man in his early sixties. He is a gentle, soft-spoken, wise old man. He dresses in a suit and string tie, probably smokes a pipe.
REVEREND COURTNEY – Slightly younger than DOC AUTRY and the obverse of him. REV. COURTNEY is rigid, angular, hidden behind the veneer of his church rhetoric. His manner of speaking is calm to the point of being chilling. He too dresses in a suit and string tie, possibly he always wears a hat. Part of his psychological dress is his large Bible, his shield.
HONEY TURNER – She is young, possibly a Black woman. She is pretty but naturally so, not “gussied up” in anyway.
BUCKY TURNER – Strong, young and crude.
LAWYER – Dresses in a suit, smart but “plays to the jury” of the small town.
BIRD CARLTON – Middle aged, heavy set, and extremely neat. Her backbone is as rigid as a ruler and as straight. She seems soft spoken and kind, probably quite as nice as RICHARD PRITCHARD’s mother.
RICHARD PRITCHARD – A good-looking Mama’s boy, nervous and afraid and alone.
LOU JANE FERGUSSON – A young “mess” of a woman. She is neater than her in-laws but only barely.
OL’ MAN FERGUSSON – A disgrace to the human race, he is filthy and likes it.
TOM FERGUSSON – Only a younger OL’ MAN FERGUSSON.
MRS. SCOTT – Tall and thin, she could be any age, the age of the mother who has lost her children.
SAM SCOTT – Same age as his wife, but his age is emphasized by drink, not grief.
CARTER SCOTT – Thin like his Mama, he is handsome and quite young.
CARRIE WAKEFIELD – Angelic in her prettiness, just a child.
SISSY WAKEFIELD – CARRIE’s mother is work weary, a frightened woman, afraid of things she hasn’t even begun to comprehend.
EUGENE WAKEFIELD – A farmer who has been finally beaten by hard work, bad luck and an evil fate.
CHRISTOPHER BOYD CADWELL – In his late teens or early twenties, he is neat and would be handsome if it were not for the terror that lies deep in his eyes.
JOY JEAN MAHORNEY – A very plain young thing.
SHERIFF BONNER – Slightly older than JOY JEAN and probably so exasperated with her because he just might like her more than he can admit.
JUDGE and MRS. MAHORNEY – Senile and deaf beyond belief.
MRS. JAMES PALLARD SIMPSON – Quiet, dignified elderly lady.
MISS DELILAH MAYBERRY – Strong-willed, strong-featured, and strong character. Younger than MRS. SIMPSON.
MRS. TEMPLETON DOUGHERTY DRAUGHN – Much younger than MRS. SIMPSON, she is somewhat “flashy” but expensively dressed. She is the second MRS. DRAUGHN.
Act II
JAMES MADISON CARLTON – In his thirties, neat, educated, soft spoken, precise in his dress and his manners.
SUZANNE CARLTON – Somewhat plain, slightly younger than her husband and a class or two beneath him.
FRED and MAUDE DOBBIN – Late twenties or early thirties, they are plainly dressed, quiet people who are somewhat frightened by the spoken word.
JUDSON PHILLIPS – Same age as FRED and MAUDE, JUDSON is a neat and careful man. He wears a tie, possibly a suit, always gentle of voice and manner.
THE STRANGER – Somewhat hidden in a large hat and dirty outer coat. Seems friendly.
CELIA PARKER – Middle aged, tall and thin, neat as a pin.
JESSE PARKER – Rugged, earth-like and sullen, slightly older than CELIA.
CALEB WILLIAMS – Younger than the PARKERS, good looking and of rugged build.
MISS PEARL AVERY – Young and pretty, fancy in her dress.
HENRY LANGDON – In his late teens or early twenties, skinny and ugly. A “good ol’ country boy” type.
TIMMY COURTNEY – HENRY’s age, but more nervous and very introverted. Soft of voice and manner. Handsome.
Appendix
CRISSY MAE CADWELL – Probably in her twenties. She is obese or thinks herself to be.
Casting note: Though there are 34 characters, the play can be presented with as few as 11 actors (6 women and 5 men).