Amalia Agazzi

Amalia is the wife of Agazzi and the sister of Laudisi. She and her daughter, Dina, feel snubbed by Signora Frola, who neither answers the door nor returns their visits. Their interest in Signora Frola is partly due to genuine concern but mainly driven by small-town curiosity. Amalia enjoys the status and comfort that come with being married to a councilor.

Commendatore Agazzi

Agazzi is a provincial councilor or lawyer, married to Amalia, who is Laudisi’s sister. Nearly fifty, he is accustomed to the power that comes with his position in the small town. He is actively involved in the gossip surrounding Signora Frola and Ponzo.

Dina Agazzi

At nineteen, Dina takes her role in uncovering the truth behind the rumors very seriously.

Centuri

Centuri is the Police Commissioner tasked with investigating the backgrounds of Ponzo, his wife, and his mother-in-law. He is around forty, highly focused, and very serious about his work. He presents his findings as if he has solved the mystery, yet fails to realize that facts don't hold much weight in this situation. He feels relieved when asked to involve his superior, the Prefect, as it allows him to return to more tangible tasks.

Signora Cini

Signora Cini is an elderly townswoman with affected manners and a penchant for hearing about others' misdeeds. Along with Signora Nenni and the Sirellis, she acts like a Greek chorus, representing typical citizens reacting to the play's events. Unlike a traditional Greek chorus, they don't guide the audience but serve as a contrast to the audience's expected reaction.

Commissioner

See Centuri

Signora Frola

Signora Frola is an enigmatic older woman living in a stylish apartment provided by her son-in-law. The townspeople are unsure whether to believe her or her son-in-law. She may either be delusional about her deceased daughter or perfectly sane, pretending to be mad to appease Ponza's delusions. Her requests for privacy are ignored.

Governor

See The Prefect

Lamberto Laudisi

Lamberto Laudisi, affectionately called "Nunky" by Dina because he is her uncle, engages in the town's gossip with a playful yet probing style reminiscent of Socratic questioning. Despite his efforts, he cannot persuade the others of the futility in uncovering the truth about Ponza and his mother-in-law. From the outset, he tells the Sirellis that both perspectives are valid, illustrating that he himself appears differently to each of them. When they believe they have conclusive evidence through Centuri’s report, Laudisi demonstrates its ambiguity by questioning which Signora Frola was in a sanitarium and suggests the possibility of a forgery. He urges them to interrogate Ponza's wife, only to laugh when her presence further complicates the mystery instead of clarifying it. As a raisonneur, Laudisi stands out as the voice of reason amid chaos, akin to Sherlock Holmes. He also serves as the playwright's alter ego, crafting a complex puzzle without offering a conventional solution. Instead, his answer is a "metasolution" that seeks to deepen the audience's understanding of awareness.

Signora Nenni

Signora Nenni is another local gossip, much like Signora Cini, who appears toward the play's conclusion.

Nunky

See Lamberto Laudisi

Ponza

Ponza, the newly appointed secretary to the town’s prefect, has recently moved to town with his wife while arranging separate accommodations for his mother-in-law. His aloofness and the secrecy surrounding his wife, who remains secluded in their fifth-floor apartment, intrigue the townsfolk. Meanwhile, his daily visits to his mother-in-law, whom he prevents from seeing her daughter, add to the mystery. Ponza's swarthy appearance and nervous behavior cast doubt on his credibility, yet his narrative competes with Signora Frola’s, leaving the townspeople baffled. He...