The Fantasticks by We the People Theatre
in White River Junction, Vermont

Characters

• El Gallo Male, High Baritone, 30-50. Narrator of the piece, liaison between audience and players. Warm, yet direct and somewhat mysterious with a commanding presence. Must be able to address the audience in an intimate, natural and sincere way and also be a “player” where needed. Some dance background helpful.
• Matt Male, Baritone, 17-30. A young lover, a romantic. Lacks experience in the world but not stupid. Naive and perhaps, foolish. Gallant and wanting to be brave and needed.
• Luisa Female, Lyric Soprano, 16-30. A young lover, a romantic, in love with the idea of love, full of dreams and romantic notions. Naive, but not stupid and very committed to her dreams. Poised and natural with a vivid imagination. Some dance background helpful.
• Hucklebee Male, 45-65. Father of Matt. Singing role. Must have good comic sense and timing and work as a team with Bellomy. They plot together for the marriage of their children.
• Bellomy Male, 45-65. Father of Luisa. Singing role. Must have good comic sense and timing and work as a team with Hucklebee. They plot together for the marriage of their children.
• Henry Male, 45-65. Elderly comic actor who, along with Mortimer, moves the action. In the spirit of Shakespearean companies, he (along with Mortimer) provides all the other characters needed for the story, particularly the “grand” characters. Was once a Shakespearean actor and may require an English accent. Functions as a unit with Mortimer and they rarely appear apart from one another. Completely theatrical, theirs is the world of the stage. Highly physical.
• Mortimer Male, 35-65. Comic actor who, along with Henry, moves the action. In the spirit of Shakespearean companies, he (along with Henry) provides all the other characters needed for the story, Mortimer’s specialty is dying in the manner of the great adventures and melodramas. May require a Cockney accent. Functions as a unit with Henry and they rarely appear apart from one another. Completely theatrical, theirs is the world of the stage. Highly physical.
• Mute Male or Female, age open. Serves many functions such as setting props, acting as scenic elements, assisting El Gallo. Present throughout the show and yet must have the ability to fade into the background. A functional character who sometimes interacts with the others. Non-speaking role, but must have a prodigious memory, excellent timing and good focus on detail.