Polyanna

Characters

POLLYANNA WHITTIER is around 10 years old and has had a lot of grief in her short life: losing her mother as a baby, losing her father at 10 and living in material poverty her whole life. Her missionary father gave her the tools to deal with life's disappointments by teaching her "The Glad Game.” He challenged her to find something to be glad about in every situation and that's what she does. Orphaned, she is sent to live with her bitter aunt whom she has never met. They are complete polar opposites in every way, except for their need of each other. Pollyanna is the original wide-eyed optimist.

MISS POLLY HARRINGTON is the youngest sister of Pollyanna's mother. Around 30 years old, she lives alone (except for her servants) in the family mansion in Beldingsville, Vermont. She has lost her parents and her sisters and has dealt with the pain by holding the world at arm's length. If she doesn't love anyone, then she can't be hurt again. That includes Dr. Tom Chilton who once courted her. She remains cold and aloof from everyone, but maintains control of her limited and stifled world with her money and social standing.

NANCYis Aunt Polly's "hired girl" and runs household errands, cleans the house and helps the cook. She becomes Pollyanna's governess (without the title and pay raise). She has a loving heart and loves Pollyanna from the moment they meet. She is in her late teens or early twenties and looks forward to one day having her own family. Because she cares so much for the people she loves, she tends to be somewhat of a worrisome character.

MRS. DURGINis the cook in the Harrington household and has been since Aunt Polly was a little girl. She doesn't approve of what Aunt Polly has become, but doesn't know what to do about it. She decides not to meddle.

OLD TOM is the gardener. He is a wise and compassionate old man who has been with the family for as long as anyone can remember. He has a positive outlook on life and his mature confidence stands in contrast to Nancy's worrisome attitude. He is sort of the old, male version of Pollyanna.

JIMMY BEANis the narrator of our story. An orphan like Pollyanna, but without relatives to take him in, he is around 11 years old. He lived in the local orphanage until he decided to take matters into his own hands and get himself adopted. He doesn't know what to make of Pollyanna in the beginning, but he eventually comes around to see things her way.

JOHN PENDLETONis the male equivalent of Aunt Polly. He is in his late 30's and lives as a bitter hermit in his big old mansion. He once loved Jenny Harrington, Pollyanna's mother. When she chose another it broke his heart and he buried himself in his books. He resents any intrusion on his privacy and is aware of the fact that Polly blames him for the loss of her sister.

DR. THOMAS CHILTON is the town doctor who once courted Polly Harrington and still secretly loves her. He knows that he should have left town long ago, but stays out of a sense of duty and purpose. He is intelligent, kind, patient and humble, but floats on a river of sadness and routine. It takes vibrant Pollyanna to bring him back to the possibilities that life holds.

PASTOR MALDEN is trying to serve in a town where people hold grudges and prefer fire & brimstone to "Rejoice and be glad." He is a confused man until he meets Pollyanna and she tells him that her daddy had once counted all the joyful texts in the Bible. She gives him the exact number and he in turn counts them and finds that there really is much over which to rejoice.

MRS. SNOWis a cagey hypochondriac, around 50 years old. She keeps tight control over her grown daughter and complains constantly to make everyone feel sorry for her and bring her gifts. They really feel sorry for her daughter, Millie. She's complained for so long that she's forgotten what pleasure and light there is in the world until she meets Pollyanna.

MILLIE SNOW has allowed herself to be her mother's servant all her life. Perhaps she's afraid to take a chance out in the real world and to cover that fear she had developed a very fine-tuned sarcasm. She has a dark, dreary manner which reflects her own sense of a meaningless existence. She's in her late 20's.

JACK PAYSONis a sometimes-employed rough-edged man in his mid-20's.

MRS. PAYSONis a little rough around the edges, but sincere with the ability to see through the eyes of a child when given the opportunity. Like everyone in town, she's been living her life for herself for so long, she is drowning in self-pity. With the chance to help someone else for a change, she makes the effort and finds the victory.

LORETTAis Mr. Pendleton's housekeeper. She suffers through his verbal jabs with choice phrases of her own, although she usually says them under her breath.

MRS BENTONis a dignified, but shy widow woman who becomes Pollyanna's friend. Her definition of "risk" is to wear a bright blue scarf with her black widow's dress.

DR. MEADis an elderly specialist from New York City. He has all the warmth of a glacier in Alaska and the tact of a mosquito.

TOWNSPEOPLE: Mrs. McCleary, Monique, Joey Payson (almost 6), Emily Payson (around 5),

Gilbert the barber, Mr. Winkle the grocer, Train Passengers, Conductor, Various Adults, Teens & Children.