Doc Delaney

Doc Delaney, a chiropractor in a Midwestern city, is an outwardly gentle, courteous, and patient man in his early forties who internally battles significant frustration due to his unfulfilled life. About twenty years prior, he felt pressured to abandon medical school to marry Lola after she became pregnant. His marriage to a woman who he considers his social and intellectual inferior, coupled with the loss of their stillborn first child due to a botched delivery, leaves Doc profoundly disappointed. The loss of his medical career and the sterility of Lola have led him into alcoholism, where he becomes nearly homicidal when intoxicated. Over time, he squandered his inherited wealth and neglected his chiropractic practice. For the past year, however, Doc has been attending Alcoholics Anonymous and is working hard to restore his life. Despite his efforts, his sobriety remains fragile. He views Marie, their young boarder, as the innocent daughter he never had, projecting his fantasies onto her. This denial of Marie’s true nature becomes another source of disappointment when he discovers her affair with Turk, prompting him to relapse into drinking. In his drunken state, he lashes out violently, accusing Lola of being a burden who has cost him his dreams. Ultimately, after a hospital stay and time to reflect, he returns to Lola with a new sense of acceptance about his circumstances.

Lola Delaney

Lola Delaney, a housewife, was married to Doc at eighteen and has mentally remained an adolescent for two decades. In contrast to her shy and introverted husband, she lacks internal resources and is entirely reliant on others. Once a strikingly attractive young woman, she has since let herself go, gaining weight and neglecting her appearance and household duties. Her youthful beauty was her sole source of success and satisfaction, and she remains fixated on those illusions. Her lost dog, Little Sheba, symbolizes her vanished youth and beauty, which she subconsciously hopes might return. Lola’s life, much like Doc’s, is filled with disappointment. Instead of turning to alcohol, she escapes into sleep and voyeurism, particularly concerning Marie's romantic escapades with Turk. She facilitates and observes their relationship, living vicariously through them. This obsession pushes her to spy on Marie and even reads a telegram announcing the arrival of Bruce, Marie’s fiancé, which spurs her into cleaning the house and preparing a special dinner. Doc’s violent reaction to her involvement in Marie’s life forces Lola to confront her reality, leading her to reconsider the path her life has taken.

Marie

Marie is a college student boarding with the Delaneys who brings a cheerful and sprightly presence to their otherwise unhappy household. At eighteen or nineteen, she serves as a conduit for both Doc's and Lola's projections. Doc perceives her as pure and saintly, akin to a daughter, while Lola sees Marie as a reflection of her own youthful self. Marie’s passionate affair with Turk, which Lola eagerly observes, ignites Doc’s suppressed anger, culminating in the play’s violent climax. Her open sexuality and use of Turk as a diversion while waiting for Bruce to marry her would have shocked the audience at the time the play was written. Unaware of the turmoil she has caused, Marie joyfully departs to marry Bruce at the play's end, oblivious to the near tragedy her actions have incited.

Turk

Turk, a college athlete, is good-looking, aggressive, and narcissistic. At just nineteen or twenty, he has already served in the military, gaining a facade of sophistication. His attitude toward women is predatory, focusing solely on sexual conquest. Despite Marie’s attraction to his raw sexuality, she understands that he does not...