The play has a cast of seven.

The parts are as follows (in order of appearance):

BILLY RICE – Billy Rice is a retired music-hall entertainer, who was extremely popular in his day. Though not rich, he still likes to present as a polished performer. He takes pride in his former success and has a nostalgic recollection for the past. He is scornful of many modern standards and behaviours and he is not afraid to be vocal of his views. He is very kindly towards his granddaughter and is shown to be an old-fashioned gentleman in many ways.

JEAN RICE – Jean is Archie’s daughter from his first marriage. She returns to the family following an argument with her fiancé. Jean has a special bond with her grandfather, Billy. Jean has become actively engaged in social and political causes and has participated in protest rallies/demonstrations, much to the dismay of her fiancé, Graham. Jean is shown be wise in understanding the underlying character of her father, Archie.

PHOEBE RICE – Phoebe is Archie’s wife, Jean’s stepmother and Frank’s mother. She is a little older than Archie and is shown to be a melancholic character. This seems to be due to the financial difficulties of the family and her dysfunctional relationship with her husband, Archie. She tolerates Archie’s blatant infidelities though they clearly wound her and make her miserable. Phoebe drinks gin excessively through the play. She has a chatty demeanour, but this masks her underlying sadness. The gin and trips to the cinema seem to be her only escape from her reality. She does deeply love her children and misses Mick, her son who is with the army in Suez.

ARCHIE RICE – Archie is a music-hall entertainer by trade, although he is presented as somewhat second-rate. The music-hall or vaudeville business is rapidly going downhill. Archie can be friendly and extroverted and fancying himself a ladies’ man. He tends to patronise those around him particularly Phoebe, his wife. The play shows him on the verge of bankruptcy and he give an air of jocularity, which conceals an inner insecurity and underlying emotions of anger and frustration.

FRANK RICE – Frank Rice is the son of Archie and Phoebe and Jean’s half-brother. Frank has served time in prison as a conscientious objector and he now makes a living playing the piano in a bar. Frank can be reserved, yet he participates in Archie’s jokes and routines with the family, which allows him to avoid the need for a deeper connection with his father.

BROTHER BILL – This is a small role of one short scene. Bill is Archie’s elder brother and is a successful and respected barrister who has occasionally provided financial assistance to Archie. He has little patience with Archie’s lifestyle.

GRAHAM – This is a small role of one short scene. Graham is Jean’s fiancé and presents in a very conservative way. He is not at all supportive toward Jean’s political activism or career interests. He is not sympathetic to Jean’s family and seems to think himself above them.

Any exact ages for the characters have not been stated. All that is needed is that the final cast plausibly appear loosely the right age for the family relationships.