Characters
Bèrenger
Bèrenger is an average, middle-aged citizen often seen in a gray overcoat, hat, and scarf, reminiscent of a Chaplinesque character, detached from reality. He has an earnest desire to inhabit the Radiant City, a utopian vision that captures his yearning for a better life. In a twist of irony, when Bèrenger discovers that the citizens of this idealized city are eager to escape due to the presence of an enigmatic killer, he bravely commits to pursuing this menace. Ultimately, his resolve crumbles, and he succumbs to the killer, a victim of the "vacuity of his commonplace morality," which deflates like a punctured balloon.
The Architect
The Architect serves as the designer of the Radiant City, a dual role that also encompasses his duties as the police superintendent and occasional medical practitioner of the district. He is a beleaguered civil servant, managing his responsibilities through the impersonal medium of a pocket telephone while wielding a large briefcase. This briefcase, like others in the play, symbolizes the bearer’s complicity in the evils they fail to confront. The Architect is described as of "ageless, bureaucratic age," perpetually warning his secretary, Mademoiselle Dany, about the perils of abandoning civil service. Yet, he maintains a blasé attitude towards the ongoing deaths that plague the city.
Mademoiselle Dany
Mademoiselle Dany, the Architect’s secretary, is characterized by her youth, blonde beauty, and a longing to escape her civil service job. Tragically, after she resigns, her lifeless body is discovered floating in the ornamental pool, a stark testament to her unfulfilled desires and the perils she sought to escape.
Edouard
Edouard, a friend of Bèrenger, is portrayed as thin, pale, and persistently nervous, with a visible illness manifesting through constant coughing. He is dressed in mourning attire, hinting at personal grief or loss. At thirty-five, his physical afflictions include a slightly withered right arm that is noticeably shorter than his left. Despite an apparent link to the killer, evidenced by the contents of his spilled briefcase, Bèrenger remains oblivious to Edouard’s dark association.
Mother Peep
Mother Peep is a female demagogue and keeper of geese, depicted as a robust woman resembling Bèrenger’s concierge. She is a satirical representation of a Fascist leader, employing doubletalk, orchestrating her geese in a goose-step, and ruthlessly eliminating any opposition. Her character serves as a critique of authoritarian figures and the blind following they command.
Man
The Man stands out as the sole voice of reason within the crowd, advocating for the hero’s rehabilitation. Despite being inebriated, he dons a top hat and tails, a stark contrast to his drunken state. His attempts to challenge Mother Peep and her geese are met with fatal consequences, as he is "liquidated,” exemplifying the peril faced by those who dare to defy oppressive forces.
The Killer
The Killer is depicted as a one-eyed dwarf who exudes a sinister aura, consistently chuckling and shrugging during Bèrenger’s final monologue. In a chilling climax, he brandishes a knife, advancing with a menacing chuckle towards the kneeling Bèrenger, bringing the play to its ominous conclusion.
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