Charlie Tynan

Charlie Tynan is the main character of Da. As a London-based playwright, he has returned to Ireland at forty-two to bury his deceased father, Da, who was his foster parent. Despite his success, Charlie is haunted by memories of Da, unable to rid himself of Da's persistent influence. Throughout his life, Charlie has grappled with conflicting feelings about Da, admiring his father during childhood but growing ashamed of what he perceived as Da's ignorance and lack of sophistication during his teenage years. Charlie's disdain for Da's rustic sensibility and subservience towards the Prynne family has been a source of personal shame. The play depicts Charlie's struggle to reconcile his love and frustration for Da, as he realizes that his father's memory will inevitably follow him throughout his life. In a poignant moment, after locking the house, Charlie turns to find Da's ghost already outside, symbolizing the enduring presence of his father's influence.

Nick Tynan

Nick Tynan, affectionately referred to as Da, is Charlie's adoptive father. Having worked as a gardener for the Prynne family from the age of fourteen until sixty-eight, Da’s life is marked by his simple yet forceful personality. Despite his cantankerous nature and a tendency to be contrary, particularly with figures like Mr. Drumm, Da is proud of his long service. At his death, he is eighty-three, yet he appears throughout the play at various younger ages. Da's posthumous interactions with Charlie highlight his impact on Charlie's upbringing, reflecting the dominant role he played. Charlie struggles with the meager pension of twenty-five pounds and an unimpressive piece of junk art given to Da by Mrs. Prynn, illustrating his disdain for Da's apparent subservience. The play centers on Charlie's journey to come to terms with both the love and conflict he experienced in his relationship with Da.

Margaret (Mag) Tynan

Margaret (Mag) Tynan, often referred to as Mother, is Da’s wife and Charlie’s adoptive mother. She is portrayed in her late fifties, although she dies several years before Da. Mag is a devoted mother, proud of having raised Charlie after his natural mother abandoned him. In a revealing moment, she admits to Drumm that she adopted Charlie and shares the story of his birth mother's failed attempt to abort him. Despite her devotion, Mag harbors a past defiance; she once accepted an invitation to tea from an old friend, alienating Da. Her marriage to Da was orchestrated by her father, despite her love for another man. Her complex relationship with Da is marked by tenderness, loyalty, and suppressed desires.

Mr. Drumm

Mr. Drumm is portrayed as a priggish and arrogant clerk in his mid-fifties during a flashback where a seventeen-year-old Charlie recalls his first job. Drumm is a bookish individual who appreciates Charlie’s literary pursuits but cannot tolerate Da’s abrasive treatment when he initially comes to hire Charlie. Despite Drumm's disdain for Da, he values Charlie's potential and cautions him about seizing life's opportunities. Post Da's funeral, Drumm visits Charlie, confessing his own personal limitations, revealing a more nuanced side to his character.

Young Charlie

Young Charlie represents Charlie Tynan at the age of seventeen. Naïve yet eager to break free from his parents' influence, particularly Da's, Young Charlie is thrilled by his employment opportunity with Drumm. He engages in exchanges with his older self, reflecting a growing cynicism and desire for independence. These interactions highlight Young Charlie's internal conflict and his quest for self-identity, as well as the elder Charlie's attempts to guide his younger self.

Oliver

Oliver, Charlie's childhood friend, appears in his early forties at the house following Da’s funeral. His presence...