3 women, 2 men Perry Pippin (Teacher): The teacher of a playwriting class. A dissolute former success. Helen (Student 1): A mousy accountant who is writing an earnest play about an accounting scandal. John (Student 2) Young husband whose marriage is falling apart. His play is a tortured love story. Christine (Student 3): Professor of Anthropology/History who has decided to turn some of her research into a play about a woman who is studying apes in the African jungle. Anastasia (Student 4): She is the Teacher’s fan. She has joined the class mostly to give him enthusiastic support.