"Puppets in the Hands of a Malevolent God" Play Seeks Talent

The newest resident of the women’s shelter, a recently traumatized woman who struggles to adapt to the shelter’s culture and routines. Lucy is locked in an internal struggle between who she is, who she fears she might be, and who she wants to be. As a result, she may come across as carefully controlled – even unsettlingly controlled.

A privileged woman from an influential family who has been living in the shelter for most of her adult life. The Cripple is broken and debased in multiple ways – physical, psychological, spiritual – and resents those who are not. In the shelter she’s found friendship and a moral code to which she adheres with unsettling rigidity. The Cripple is left-handed, though the actor playing her need not be.

Like the Cripple – with whom she lives in a symbiotic relationship of near psychological unity – the Foreigner has lived in the shelter for most of her adult life. Since English is not her first language she speaks mostly in fragments, though she understands far more than she indicates. Like the Cripple, the Foreigner has found in the shelter friendship and a moral code to which she adheres with unsettling rigidity. The Foreigner is left-handed, though the actor playing her need not be.

The brusk, particular, yet compassionate administrator of the women’s shelter. Ms. Calhoun knows far more than she’s willing to admit, and what she doesn’t know… she’s decided not to know. She can be curt, even insulting. Ultimately, however, she cares about each of her resident’s physical, psychological, and especially spiritual needs.

A lonely woman who desires companionship, Robin has been a resident of the shelter for several years. Through good behaviour and hard work she’s earned a private room, yet finds herself drawn to other residents in a perhaps futile effort to develop friendships. In Lucy she sees someone who resembles herself as a new resident, so she attempts to offer guidance.

A soul older than everyone else in the women’s shelter, perhaps older than civilisation itself. Annie-Frid is a primal embodiment of ideas, values, and practices that have been forgotten and sometimes actively suppressed. Her mind was shaped by, and still exists within, a culture that’s only remembered in fragments and whispers. She is missing her left eye, and is ambidextrous (though the actor playing her need not be).

A cheerful, well-intentioned psychiatrist who is responsible for far too many people – though he may not be fully cognisant of that fact. Dr. Frederickson has learned that good humour and a positive attitude can get him through the day. He tries to set a worthy example for his residents and staff.

An ambitious priest and devoted pastor aiming to one day become an Archbishop. Father Gavin is a gentle, sincere, and devote man who has spent a lifetime hiding from his deepest fears – most often through diligent performance of his duties.

Dominic’s mother. Claire is a schoolteacher, primarily because she believed in her youth that teaching was the only career open to her. She is a sincere and loving mother who is truly devoted to her responsibilities. Claire is also firm yet socially adept – someone who is set in her convictions yet generally able to get along with people quite different from herself.

Emmitt’s mother. Elizabeth is a real estate agent. She became a mother accidently, and though she would never admit it to her son or anyone else, would rather not be a mother at all. Still, she faces her responsibilities with a brave face and tries to maintain a positive attitude. Elizabeth is chatty and a little boisterous.

Mother of Neil, the young soldier whose funeral has just been held. Chantal is a woman of tremendous faith and pride, who’s found herself dealing with a tragic loss. She is facing her tragedy with the same stiff upper lip and well-practiced etiquette she applies to all things. Although Chantal quit working when Neil was born she is an active and well-respected leader in her parish community.

A timid mouse of a woman who soaks up and internalizes the emotions and attitudes of those around her – especially when it comes to Chantal, her best friend since childhood. Penelope owns and operates a restaurant with her husband William, with whom she has two young daughters.

A young single mother who’s only recently moved to the community and joined the parish. Margaret is eager to find her place in her new home, though her efforts are sometimes stymied by a still-evolving self. She hopes that by discovering who she can become amongst the other mothers she will also finally be able to decide who she is. Margaret works part-time at Penelope’s restaurant, putting in as many hours as she can while handling the responsibilities of caring for young twins.

A fiercely independent – and generally fierce – associate with a major retailer with ambitions to move into management. Birgitte is the mother of two children, a daughter and a son, upon whom she dotes whenever she has time. But her principal concern and driving motivation is her career. Birgitte is someone with a five-year plan, ten-year plan, fifteen-year plan, and twenty-year plan