Joe Farkas

Joe Farkas, a Jewish man hailing from Brooklyn, finds himself transplanted into the heart of the South to contribute his talents to Adolph's bedding company. Lacking a formal college education, Joe nonetheless possesses a keen intellect, as Sunny aptly describes him as "very bright." Deeply rooted in his cultural heritage, Joe is taken aback when he encounters a family seemingly adrift in their own Jewish identity. Unlike most characters tangled in the play's web, Joe feels an unwavering connection to the Jewish people in Europe, driven not only by familial ties but also a profound sense of solidarity with his fellow Jews. He is acutely aware of the subtle prejudices held by the Levys against him and others of Eastern European Jewish descent. Discovering that the Standard Club bars entry to Jews like him, Joe departs from the dance, leaving Sunny behind, and cannot help but accuse her of "Jew hater talk." Despite the passion of his words, he eventually seeks to mend the rift and rekindle their relationship.

Adolph Freitag

Adolph Freitag, a lifelong bachelor, resides with his two widowed sisters-in-law and steers the family’s bedding enterprise, a legacy initiated by their eldest brother, Sunny’s late father. Among the elder family members, Adolph stands alone in his awareness of the broader world beyond Atlanta's Jewish enclave, particularly concerned about the plight of Jews in Europe. His relationship with Sunny is one of genuine warmth and understanding, a stark contrast to his interactions with the flighty Lala. Pleased by the budding romance between Sunny and Joe, Adolph is nonetheless not free from the social elitism that plagues his family. He is, after all, a former president of the exclusive Standard Club.

Reba Freitag

Reba Freitag, widow of Boo and Adolph’s brother, shares her home with them. Often seen engrossed in her knitting, Reba exudes a laid-back demeanor, particularly when compared to her sister-in-law. However, she frequently appears slightly out of sync with those around her, as the character notes describe her as "not quite in synch with everybody else."

Sunny Freitag

Sunny Freitag, at twenty, presents a striking contrast to her cousin Lala, with her sunny disposition, blonde locks, and insatiable curiosity. Despite her seemingly "Aryan" appearance, Sunny has not been immune to prejudice; she was once expelled from a private pool in her teenage years in full view of her peers. This incident left her feeling perpetually different from her friends. Back home for the Christmas holidays from Wellesley, where she studies sociology, Sunny stands out in her family. Her open-mindedness is such that she is unfamiliar with terms like "the other kind" and struggles to grasp their significance. Although she often criticizes Atlanta's Jewish social circles, she agrees to attend Ballyhoo with Joe. Her affection for him grows swiftly, but her failure to disclose the club's exclusivity threatens their fledgling romance. During their ensuing argument, when Sunny declares their "equality," she inadvertently reveals her susceptibility to the pervasive family snobbery. Unlike her relatives, Sunny ultimately grasps the absurdity of disliking Jews from different geographic origins, realizing it would be akin to disapproving of herself. By the play’s conclusion, she has reconciled with Joe and embarks on a sincere exploration of her religious and cultural roots, signaling a profound transformation from her earlier belief that religion held no relevance in contemporary society.

Boo Levy

Beulah "Boo" Levy, a widowed Southern lady, shares the family abode with Lala, her brother-in-law, and sister-in-law. Her foremost anxiety centers on securing a date for the socially challenged and awkward Lala for Ballyhoo. While she insists on leveraging their family’s social stature...