Please cast using inclusive, racially conscious and gender expansive choices.

Margery Pinchwife: Newly married to Jack. Her mask is an innocent, guileless, obedient country bumpkin, and she presents it to almost everyone except Alithea and Lucy. She learns quickly and is smarter than she lets on. She wants to use her new role as a Town wife to her advantage, to gain the freedom and autonomy available to women in the city.

Alithea Pinchwife: Younger sister of Jack, witty, straightforward, and honorable. Margery’s ally, but she is beholden to and powerless under her controlling brother. Engaged to Sparkish out of obligation, she falls in love with Harcourt. Her mask is the dependent, submissive woman, but she fights against it with her honesty and intellect. She wants to free herself from her brother’s control without deserting Margery.

Lucy: Alithea’s sensible, intelligent, and insightful maid. Resourceful in organizing and executing a variety of schemes, she also works for others when it suits her, including Horner and Harcourt. Knows everybody, sees everything, understands how to use information to her advantage, and plays the long game. She can change her mask to suit the situation and her own needs. She wants to personally profit from assisting others in their shenanigans.

Lady Fidget: Married to Sir Jasper Fidget and the leader of the “virtuous gang” of Society ladies. Her mask is the upright and honorable Society wife, which she uses with her husband and in public, in order to enjoy herself with her friends and lovers in private. Has a secret affair with Horner. Skilled in playing the game of code-switching, she wants to act freely without getting caught, so she can maintain her reputation and standing, and assist other women in doing the same.

Mistress Squeamish: Cousin of the Fidgets, one of Lady Fidget’s sidekicks in the “virtuous gang” of Society ladies. Her mask is the upright and honorable Society woman, which she uses in public so she may enjoy herself with her friends and lovers in private. Has a secret affair with Horner. She wants to keep up with and learn from Lady Fidget, and to act freely while maintaining her reputation and standing.

Dainty Fidget: Unmarried sister of Sir Jasper Fidget, one of Lady Fidget’s sidekicks and the most innocent/inexperienced of the “virtuous gang” of Society ladies. Her mask is the upright and honorable Society woman, which she uses in public so she may enjoy herself with her friends and lovers in private. Has a secret affair with Horner. She wants to keep up with and learn from Lady Fidget and Mistress Squeamish, and to act freely while maintaining her reputation and standing.

Harry Horner: A notorious City playboy, rake and wit. He wears a variety of masks: the impotent eunuch in public and in front of the husbands whose wives he wants to sleep with; the loyal Three Musketeers buddy to his male friends; the smitten lover to his sexual conquests. His many masks make it difficult to know who the real Horner is. He wants to do as he pleases without getting caught.

Jack Pinchwife: Newly married to Margery. An aging former playboy, he is now the archetypal jealous husband: obsessive, tyrannical, suspicious and violent. He attempts to mask these qualities behind a show of strength, but does not succeed. He may have a sexual history with Horner as well as a friendship. He wants control and power.

Sparkish: A shallow, self-centered, would-be playboy who considers himself a wit, but is thought a ridiculous fool by everyone else. Believes that others think as highly of him as he does of himself. Engaged to Alithea and wears the mask of the devoted lover until he thinks she has been unfaithful to him. He wants admiration, and Alithea’s dowry.

Sir Jasper Fidget: An oblivious and gullible Society gentleman, married to Lady Fidget. Believes he is more aware and insightful than he is. Wears the mask of the devoted husband because Society expects it. He wants to keep his wife happy and (he thinks) under his control, but without having to exert too much effort.

Frank Harcourt: A witty, rakish, but honest friend of Horner’s. Falls in love with Alithea, which brings out his better nature, although he still employs trickery to attain her. His masks are temporary and primarily aimed at Sparkish (the good friend, the parson). He wants Alithea to love and marry him. (Although this character is male, the role should preferably be cast with a female, nonbinary, trans or genderfluid actor.)