Masks of the Drama
Let us begin by introducing the characters you will hear throughout this work
 | Andrei:
A late 20th Century Russian geek working at a high-tech company in Tokyo. Besides listening ta jazz, watching football, &
drinking spirits, he's fond of hiking & fishing. Seemingly nonchalant about politics, Andrei is concerned about broad environmental trends & takes lots of small (though largely symbolic) steps to reduce his eco-footprint. He makes modest donations to various ecological groups, but feels anxious about how his lifestyle contributes to many environmental problems. These worries, however, disappear after a few drinks or during a good football game. When those fleeting distractions wear off, perplexity returns. |
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 | Jules:
A handsome, though aging, French teacher at a university in Tokyo, Jules is interested in the fine arts, gourmet food,
and almost any kind of beer. Once keen about many political causes, since turning 50 he's become jaded by a sense of futility.
Despite brooding moments, he manifests élan & interacts skillfully with everyone – at least while sober. His dream
is to join an ecologically self-sufficient commune, but the thought of giving up macadamia nuts, bitto cheese, or Cabernet
Sauvignon invites hesitation. Deep down he wonders how much longer the human species can last given the frenetic pace of change. |
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 | Philyra: A Greek goddess with a biting tongue. Dedicated to "making the world better", she's invariably frustrated by the indifference of most people. Although her barb stings, some value her "no bullshit" attitude. After graduating with a M.A. in philosophy from the University of Athens, she traveled around the world via bicycle & boat before working for an environmental NGO in London. Last year she was transferred to the Tokyo office and she often feels lost in that city of 10 million. Not without contradictions, she loves classical ballet, gourmet ice cream, cappuccino, & hazelnut liquor. Describing herself as "permanently single" she lives with two cute kittens near a dance & yoga studio. |
[ii]
 | Soo: A middle-aged Korean feminist now living just north of Tokyo. Politically active in Seoul in her college days, recently she's busy raising her daughter and taking care of her parents. Earning a modest living through translation work for sundry auto parts makers, she often dreams of writing full-length novels. Her 11-yr. old daughter aspires to become a concert pianist. Soo wonders whether it's kinder to encourage such dreams or squelch them early so that her daughter won't end up penniless or disillusioned. Pushing away such doubts, each day she radiates heroic verve. Generally a paragon of politeness, once in a while she erupts. When that happens and her anger is in full steam, no natural force can stop her. | |
 | Ellesha: Deep into meditation, yoga, eco-lifestyles, and vegetarianism, this woman follows an ascetic daily ritual. She believes in "energy-charging", healing, and nearly everything generally regarded as "weird". Married (at least on paper) to a conservative stock investor on assignment in Tokyo, she's lived in half a dozen cities around the world, but the memories of her first years on a small island in Mozambique are most vivid. Widely criticized for seeming apolitical, she's witnessed lots of ugly stuff. Committed to self-growth, she believes that's the only way to help others. Though often dismissed as otherworldly, she politely ignores others and simply does what she feels must be done. "We've got to transform the energy of this planet" she whispers. However, at times she regrets the way so many people label unfamiliar things bonkers. | |
 | Elijah: A sophomore at an international high school in Tokyo and Ellesha's only child. Born when Ellesha and her husband were in Brasilia on the night of a full moon, he seems calm and somehow beyond his years. Skilled at math and trilingual, he's interested in promoting space exploration and designing esoteric rocket engines. "Many of the problems of our world will be solved if we venture onto others" Elijah remarked without offering proof. His mother warns him not to be so naive about the benefits of science nor confident of technology, but how many 16-year-olds listen to their parents? |
