Alissa Stevenson (40s, Actress):

Alissa is a significant supporting character, one of Victoria’s closest friends and a key actress in her theater productions. She is emotionally balanced and deeply connected to the characters she portrays on stage, which makes her a valuable asset to Victoria’s work. Off stage, she acts as a calming presence, someone Victoria can rely on, especially when tensions rise. Alissa understands the emotional weight Victoria carries and often encourages her to trust her instincts, offering quiet support without being overbearing. Her role is to help highlight the gap between Victoria’s public persona as a successful director and her private turmoil, serving as a trusted friend who sees the cracks in Victoria’s armor.

Sebastián (Mid 40s, Assistant Director):

Sebastián is Victoria’s long-time friend and professional collaborator. He is an actor in the troupe and also works as her assistant director. His relationship with Victoria is one of deep loyalty and understanding, having been by her side throughout much of her artistic career. While he offers practical advice and support in her creative endeavors, he also functions as one of the few people who can challenge Victoria, calling her out when necessary but always with care and concern. Sebastián’s role is to act as Victoria’s emotional anchor, someone who is attuned to her needs and struggles but doesn’t always push her to confront them directly. His insight into Victoria’s emotional state adds depth to their dynamic, as he sees the underlying struggles she hides from others.

Steve is a complex supporting character in Victoria’s story. He plays the role of Victoria’s on-and-off lover and fellow actor in her theater troupe. Here’s a breakdown of his character traits and role in the story:

Key Traits:

• Charismatic and Free-Spirited: Steve exudes charm and energy, often embracing a carefree, hedonistic lifestyle that contrasts with Victoria’s more serious and driven personality.

• Emotionally Immature: While he deeply cares for Victoria, he lacks the emotional depth or maturity needed to fully understand or support her through her inner turmoil. His way of coping with Victoria’s complexity is often to retreat into their casual, party-driven relationship, avoiding difficult conversations.

• Frustrated and Overlooked: Steve feels sidelined in Victoria’s life, as her work and internal struggles often take priority over their relationship. This leads to moments of tension and frustration, particularly when he tries to connect with her on a deeper level and is met with emotional distance.

• Loyal but Needy: Despite his frustrations, Steve is loyal to Victoria, sticking around in hopes that their relationship will evolve into something more meaningful. However, his need for affection and validation clashes with Victoria’s reluctance to fully commit emotionally.

Role in the Story:

• Foil to Victoria: Steve’s carefree, often self-indulgent personality serves as a foil to Victoria’s driven and emotionally restrained nature. Where Victoria is haunted by her past and resistant to vulnerability, Steve is more present-focused and emotionally open, even if immature.

• Emotional Tension: Steve embodies the romantic and personal tension in Victoria’s life. Their relationship represents a part of her that seeks escape from her deeper issues, as Steve provides distraction through partying and affection, but this also leads to friction when deeper emotional needs arise.

• Symbol of What Could Be: Steve represents a potential life for Victoria—one where she could let go of her past, embrace a more carefree existence, and find happiness in simpler, more immediate pleasures. However, their relationship ultimately highlights how emotionally unavailable Victoria remains due to her unresolved trauma.

• Catalyst for Conflict: Their relationship comes to a head when Victoria’s emotional distance becomes too much for Steve. His frustration over Victoria’s inability to fully commit, along with his discovery of her infidelity, leads to conflict, further pushing Victoria toward confronting her deeper issues rather than continuing to avoid them.

Character Type:

Steve is a tragic romantic figure in the story. While he is affectionate and genuinely cares for Victoria, he is not equipped to help her through her emotional struggles. His own shortcomings, particularly his immaturity and his tendency to focus on surface-level pleasures, make him both an enabler of Victoria’s escapism and a source of tension when he demands more from their relationship.

Overall, Steve’s character serves as an emotional and romantic counterbalance to Victoria, highlighting her emotional barriers while also representing the tension between her need for connection and her fear of vulnerability.

Patty (40s, Manager/Agent):

Patty is Victoria’s manager, a no-nonsense businesswoman who is always focused on pushing Victoria to produce new work and maintain her career momentum. Patty cares about Victoria’s professional success, but her pragmatic approach often clashes with Victoria’s more emotional and erratic nature. Patty’s relentless focus on deadlines and projects represents the external pressure on Victoria to keep up appearances and continue achieving, even as her internal world is in turmoil. Patty’s role as a supporting character is to emphasize the conflict between Victoria’s professional obligations and her personal struggles, serving as a reminder of the fast-paced world of theater that doesn’t wait for emotional breakdowns.

Kate (They/Them, Wardrobe Supervisor):

Kate is the stylish and efficient wardrobe supervisor for Victoria’s productions. Although they do not engage deeply in the personal drama of the troupe, they are an integral part of the production team, bringing a creative and professional eye to the visual aspects of the performances. Kate’s role in the story is to add a layer of professionalism and camaraderie within the theater group, balancing the artistic chaos with a sense of grounded competence. They often remain on the periphery of the emotional turmoil but contribute to the cohesion of the team and the success of the productions.

Sofía Rodríguez González (Early 20s):

Sofía is a pivotal supporting character, acting as the catalyst for the main plot. She is Victoria’s estranged sister, the one who reaches out to inform Victoria of their mother’s impending death. Sofía’s youthful energy contrasts with Victoria’s more hardened emotional state. She represents a potential for reconnection and healing, as she has stayed behind with their mother, bearing the weight of caring for her. Sofía is determined to bring Victoria back into the family, even though they’ve never met in person, and she serves as the emotional heart of the story. Through Sofía’s attempts to reunite with Victoria, the tension between the sisters grows, highlighting Victoria’s reluctance to confront her past and the possibility of reconciliation.

Jerry (Late 30s-40s, Danny’s Husband):

Jerry, Danny’s supportive husband, is an outsider to the theater world but often participates in social gatherings with the group. He is kind-hearted and laid-back, providing a comforting and non-dramatic presence in contrast to the intensity of the artistic world. Though not deeply involved in the central plot, Jerry’s relationship with Danny offers a glimpse of stability and normalcy, contrasting with the more fraught relationships around Victoria. His presence underscores the theme of chosen family and the bonds formed outside of biological ties.

Danny (40s, Actor):

Danny is a fellow actor in the theater troupe and one of Victoria’s long-time friends. Known for his humor and ability to lighten tense moments, Danny plays an important role in keeping the group cohesive. His relationship with his husband, Jerry, serves as an example of stability and emotional security within the troupe, offering a counterbalance to the more tumultuous relationships, like that between Victoria and Steve. Danny’s role is to bring levity and warmth to the ensemble, helping to diffuse moments of tension while maintaining close ties to Victoria and the other cast members.

Bob Olbermann (60s, Radio Host):

Bob is the host of Off Broadway, a radio show where Victoria is interviewed about her latest work. He is gentle and relaxed, helping Victoria open up about her personal experiences and how they’ve shaped her artistic journey. Bob’s role, though minor, is significant in that his interview prompts Victoria to reveal personal details about her abortion and exile, which stirs up buried emotions and sets the stage for her internal conflict. His calm, non-judgmental demeanor contrasts with the more intense characters in Victoria’s life, and his questions help pull back the layers of Victoria’s public persona.

Ana Rodríguez González (Late 60s, Frail):

Ana, Victoria and Sofía’s mother, is a secondary yet crucial character who represents the root of Victoria’s internal conflict. Ana is deeply conservative and devoutly religious, traits that led her to exile Victoria after her abortion. Now on her deathbed, Ana’s frailty mirrors the emotional fragility of the family ties. Although she does not feature prominently in many scenes, her presence looms over the story as Victoria grapples with whether or not to return home to see her before she dies. Ana embodies the unresolved guilt and tension that Victoria carries with her, making her a symbol of both pain and potential reconciliation.

The Bartender (Female, 30s-40s):

The bartender appears in a minor but poignant scene where Victoria drinks alone after a confrontation with Steve. She listens to Victoria’s frustrations and delivers a simple but impactful observation about death being the last unresolved thing everyone faces. This moment resonates deeply with Victoria, planting the idea that she cannot keep avoiding the unresolved issues in her life, particularly the relationship with her dying mother. The bartender serves as a brief but insightful character who helps push Victoria toward a crucial realization.

The Group in the Park (Supporting Characters):

The group of people Victoria encounters in the park during the primal screaming circle offers a symbolic moment of catharsis for her. Though they are unnamed and their roles are small, they represent the release and emotional expression that Victoria desperately needs. Joining this group in their raw, unfiltered screams allows her to confront the bottled-up frustration and grief she has been suppressing, serving as a turning point in her journey.