Dramatis Personae
The
Dramatis Personae is the collective name for characters in a particular play, which have to be played by the cast members, whether they act or use some other form (such as puppetry), or even if they be animals. Off-stage characters are not considered part of the dramatis personae.
The dramatis personae is also the list of character names at the beginning of a written play. In Ancient Greek and in Shakespearian plays (as well as many other old drama) the names were listed in order of hierarchy, with gods at the top, peasants at the bottom. The female characters were listed below all the male characters.<p>
Nowadays next to the each name is the actor who will play the part-in professional plays it may be their stage name. Or it will be he or she who played the part originally. <p>
In order not to give away vital parts of the plot some names may be altered, for example mixed up with another name. <p>
Some minor characters may just be listed just as the actors who perform the parts.<p>
Dramatis Personae is also the title of an 1864 poetry collection by Robert Browning.
