Royal Court Production
Act 1
- Clive, a colonial administrator
- Betty, his wife, played by a man
- Joshua, his black servant, played by a white actor
- Edward, his son, played by a woman
- Victoria, his daughter, a ventriloquist's dummy
- Maud, his mother-in-law
- Ellen, Edward's governess
- Harry Bagley, an explorer
- Mrs. Saunders, a widow (played by the same actress who plays Ellen)
Act 2
- Betty, now played by a woman (normally the same actress who plays Edward)
- Edward, her son, now played by a man (normally the same actor who plays Betty)
- Victoria, her daughter (normally played by the same actress who plays Maud)
- Martin, Victoria's husband (normally played by the same actor who plays Harry)
- Lin, a lesbian single mother (normally played by the same actress who plays Ellen/Mrs. Saunders)
- Cathy, Lin's daughter, age 5, played by a man (normally the same actor who plays Clive)
- Gerry, Edward's lover (normally played by the same actor who plays Joshua)
Royal Court & New York Productions
Act 1
- Clive, a colonial administrator
- Betty, his wife, played by a man
- Joshua, his black servant, played by a white
- Edward, his son, played by a woman
- Victoria, his daughter, a ventriloquist's dummy
- Maud, his mother-in-law
- Ellen, Edward's governess
- Harry Bagley, an explorer
- Mrs. Saunders, a widow (played by the same actress who plays Ellen)
Act 2
- Betty, now played by a woman (normally the same actress who plays Ellen/Mrs. Saunders)
- Edward, her son, now played by a man (normally the same actor who plays Clive)
- Victoria, her daughter (normally played by the same actress who plays Edward)
- Martin, Victoria's husband (normally played by the same actor who plays Harry)
- Lin, a lesbian single mother (normally played by the same actress who plays Maud)
- Cathy, Lin's daughter, age 5, played by a man (normally the same actor who plays Joshua)
- Gerry, Edward's lover (normally played by the same actor who plays Betty)