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NOTE: HETCHMAN, HETCHMAN'S WIFE, and MECKEL, despite being “old,” are not necessarily literally old. They are old in the way your math teacher could be fifty or ninety. Ageless. They also all speak with quasi-Eastern European accents.
HETCHMAN (Male, Late 40s to 70s) Vaguely Eastern European/Jewish,
Hetchman loves hats, particularly his hat. Very comfortably retired, he spends most of his time doing exactly what he is comfortable doing: sitting his chair, watching TV. He is a creature of extreme routine and resists even the most minute changes in his life. Hetchman values hats and the order/care/talent they represent above all else. Doesn’t interact well with others. Kind of a schmuck.
HETCHMAN’S WIFE (Female, Late 40s to 70s) Vaguely Eastern European/Jewish, stocky, careworn, long-suffering, unfussy, from good solid peasant stock. A steady match for Hetchman who is not afraid of her husband. Until now, she has accepted her place in society and the thankless tasks that come with it.
MECKEL (Male, Late 40s to 70's) Vaguely Eastern European/Jewish, Mekel is Hetchman’s neighbor and only friend. Cheerful, popular, and kind. He is the opposite of Hetchman. Meckel is as loved as Hetchman is lonely. He’s funny and fun to be around. When all the other husbands die, Meckel is the one all the widows fawn over. He always tries to do the right thing. A real mensch.
VOICE (Female, Late 20s-mid 30s) Child of Hetchman and Hetchman's wife. A young woman in search of her history. She’s simultaneously a needy mess and in control. She internalizes things, she doesn’t share her emotions. She’s a Type A doer who has somehow found herself in a strange existential crisis. She wants a “good life,” even if she doesn’t know what that even means or how she truly feels about that. Before this play, she’s probably not the type to believe in magic.
GABE AND GOLEM (Male, Late 20s-late 40s) Seeking versatile actor to play both roles: GABE: Voice’s laid back, easygoing boyfriend. Slightly offbeat sense of humor. Not a worrier, the kind of guy who can easily turn off his brain before sleep. Probably a good counter to a more anxious Voice. Assumes that problems will be dealt with when they appear. Also plays GOLEM: A golem loosely based on the Jewish tradition. Made of muck and mud. Serves as a surrogate son to Hetchman. Loud, resonant, can be petulant and id-like. Physically adept and able to play both unwieldy and imposing, and also graceful and surprisingly gentle.
WALL (Female, 30s to 50s) Vaguely Eastern European/Jewish. The Hetchman family wall. An observant, smarmy, well-meaning, and slightly mischievous supernatural being that lives in the Hetchman family home. Has an attitude that comes with the power of knowledge. After years of lying dormant, Wall wants to be listened to and regarded above all else. Emphasis for the role is vocal, as actor will be represented largely thru voice.
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