CAST OF CHARACTERS
(in order of appearance except for those who also appear in Act II)
THIRD BROTHER LI: The faithful servant of the founder of the Teahouse who stayed on to serve his son and successor. In his 50s.
HOUSEKEEPER WANG (SHUFEN): Wife of the Shopkeeper. 40-ish.
SHOPKEEPER WANG (LIFA): Son of the founder and current Shopkeeper. 40-ish in Act I.
POLICEMAN: First of many who come to shake down the owners and regulars at the Teahouse. 40-ish.
FIRST SOLDIER: Second of same. 30s.
SECOND SOLDIER: Third of same. 30s.
FORTUNE TELLER TANG: A boyhood associate of the Shopkeeper and now a hustler. He is slightly older than the Shopkeeper.
FOURTH UNCLE CHANG: A regular at the Teahouse who used to be a Bannerman (civil or military retainer) in the Qing Empire. Confident and principled. 40-ish in Act I.
SECOND UNCLE SONG: Same but nervous but talkative. Late 40s.
SPECIAL AGENT SONG: Like the policeman and soldiers. He is not related to Second Uncle. 40-ish.
SPECIAL AGENT WU: Same. Neither would actually have been called “special agent” but this naming convention is used here for consistency. 40-ish.
POCKFACE LIU: A facilitator of the buying and selling of boys and girls. Late 50s.
KANG SHUNZI: As a young girl nearly twenty-five years ago she had been sold to be a concubine in Eunuch Pang’s household by Pockface Liu. She returns seeking revenge. Late 30s.
KANG DALI: A young boy rescued from Eunuch Pang’s household by Kang Shunzi. Preteen.
OLD LIN: After more than ten years in military service, he seeks to try life as a civilian. 30s.
OLD CHEN: Sworn brother of Lin having lived in similar circumstances. 30s.
ELDER CUI (“tsui”) JIUFENG: An elderly boarder at the Teahouse who had once been active in public life. Late 60s.
COMMANDER, MILITARY POLICE:
MILITARY POLICEMAN 1:
MILITARY POLICEMAN 2:
WANG XIAOHUA: The Shopkeeper’s granddaughter. Preteen. Act II only, as are all the following characters.
HOUSEKEEPER ZHOU (XIUHUA): The Shopkeeper’s daughter-in-law. 40-ish
WANG DASHUAN: The Shopkeeper’s oldest son. 40-ish.
DING BAO: Seventeen year old hired to be a hostess.
CUSTOMER 1:
CUSTOMER 2:
POCKFACE JUNIOR: Son of Pockface Liu. Engaged in a modern version of the same trade. 30-ish.
BILL COLLECTOR:
CHEF MING: Teahouse regular and friend of the Shopkeeper. 40s.
STORY TELLER ZOU:
OPERA SINGER WEI:
DEZI THE BULLY: Wang Dashuan’s former schoolmate; he is a couple of years younger.
TEACHER XIE: Occasional customer.
TEACHER YU: Same.
SECRET POLICE SONG: Son of Special Agent Song
SECRET POLICE WU: Son of Special Agent Wu.
SECOND ELDER QIN (“chin”): Landlord of the Teahouse. 70-ish.
XINYAN: Another hostess, like Ding Bao. Late teens.
DIRECTOR SHEN: Local head of the Nationalist Party, its military and paramilitary forces, and therefore a major source of power in the city. Late 40s.
