Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/46010
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

## Problem

I'm writing a play that includes a number of minor characters who only exist for a scene or two. They are defined by their personality traits, not by their professions, and their names are irrelevant (I could introduce them, but they don't really matter). I'm unsure of how to refer to them in the script.

## Options I've considered

### Give them names in the script that aren't said in the play

> _Dramatis Personae_:
> 
> - John Doe, the protagonist
> - Alice, the prepared townsperson
> - Bob, the unprepared townsperson
> 
> JOHN: Is it going to rain today?
> 
> ALICE: I think so. I brought my umbrella.
> 
> BOB: Uh oh, I left mine at home.

### Refer to them by their personality traits

> _Dramatis Personae_:
> 
> - John Doe, the protagonist
> - A prepared townsperson
> - An unprepared townsperson
> 
> JOHN: Is it going to rain today?
> 
> PREPARED: I think so. I brought my umbrella.
> 
> UNPREPARED: Uh oh, I left mine at home.

### Give them numbers, continuing from previous scenes

> _Dramatis Personae_:
> 
> - John Doe, the protagonist
> - Several townspeople
> 
> _(In a previous scene, John talked to four townspeople. This scene starts with him approaching two new ones)_
> 
> JOHN: Is it going to rain today?
> 
> TOWNSPERSON 5: I think so. I brought my umbrella.
> 
> TOWNSPERSON 6: Uh oh, I left mine at home.

## Question

How should the script refer to these minor characters whose names are irrelevant?

Original score: 4