Male / John / appearing to be 40's-50's.

Academic Hippie: A dissilutioned intellectual, John carries his rock and roll past with him wherever he goes. He loves Emily deeply but sometimes looses perspective. He holds faith in  material science above all.  This character requires the ability to convincingly portray a seeming dual nature -- both scientist and, triggered by "mood", a village beatnik. He struggles to move beyond his pride and past attachments. He wears an old broad-rimmed hat, always.

Female / Emily / appearing to be 40's - 50's.

Emily is John's caring wife. She was the proverbial "flower child" on campus. A social activist she first began to see that opposition to the "establishment" must eventually build positive structures. She is vivacious but lets John spout when he gets into moods. Up close, she seems slightly "off kilter". Her common sense humanitarianism is askew and she functions locked within her own world, within the house, unaware of its crumbling foundation and dilapidated interior.

Shane represents the younger innocence of John, his holy doppelganger. He is intelligent, articulate, and mystical. He has playful moments when he appears childlike but never simplistic. In a positive way, he challenges John to open his eyes and live the fullness of reality that surrounds him. That means moving beyond the past. Shane doesn't waste words or actions. He always lives on many levels. He dresses in neo-60-ish style, casual and more colourful than John.

Katie behaves like Emily's daughter. She is comfortable with Katie and sees the house's faults but remains charitable and kind in her promptings to lead Emily outside for some fresh air. She is a sister to Shane, completing many of the poetic verses he initiates. She has a mysterious angelic and feminine quality without being aloof or "sci-fi". She wear sandals or flip-flops and is very comfortable with herself. She has a daisy in her hair.

The gardener works around the house to cultivate the flower beds and first appears rather suddenly when the word "love" is first used. He is a hardy man with a pleasant peaceful face and enjoys humming as he works. He must be able to roll down a slight hill for a scene where his root pulling results in a tumble and be willing to be happily mauled by two dozen young children.

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