Venus Suzan-Lori Parks

In Venus

• Miss Saartjie Baartman – introduced as the Girl, and later becomes the "Hottentot Venus"
• The Mother-Showman – owner of the Girl and the 8 Human Wonders
• The Baron Docteur – doctor from Paris who later becomes the owner and husband of Venus Hottentot
• The Grade-School Chum – old friend of the Baron Docteur
• The Negro Resurrectionist  – the host and story guide; was once in the business of illegal unearthing of corpses for doctors to scientifically analyze
• The Man – finances the Girl's journey to London
• The Brother – the Man's Brother; takes the Girl to London

In "For the Love of the Venus."

• The Bride-to-Be – a woman in love with the Young Man, later guised as The Hottentot Venus
• The Young Man – wants to love a Wild Thing; wants to love The Hottentot Venus
• The Father – conspires with his son, the Young Man, to acquire The Hottentot Venus
• The Mother – mother of the Young Man, conspires with the Bride-to-Be to disguise her as The Hottentot Venus
• The Uncle – uncle of the Young Man, presents the disguised Bride-to-Be to his nephew
• The Baron Docteur – the audience for the first two acts
• The Negro Resurrectionist – audience for the final three acts
• The Venus – watches the Baron Docteur watch the play