Tess of the D'Urbervilles
by Thomas Hardy, Alex Loveless

Age 16–23. An unsophisticated and poor country girl with only a basic education, Tess is nevertheless a free spirit and independent thinker. Tess has a two-octave range (G3-G5) and needs to sing through this on a regular basis. Tess is a mezzo-soprano role and needs to be convincing and comfortable in “head” voice (above the “break”). On the one hand, her range can be quite high and operatic, and on the other, she also needs to be able to sound “folky” and “authentic.”

Age 22–29. Idealist and iconoclast who does not conform to the rigid puritanical religious tenets espoused by his parson father. Eschewing a university education like that of his brothers, Angel pursues a career in farming, meeting Tess at Talbothays Dairy, where the two fall in love and wed. Angel is a tenor/high baritone, singing up to A4 (optional) or A flat 4.

Age 24–31. Wealthy and worldly, domineering and debauched, Alec seduces and rapes Tess after she comes to his family home to claim kin, unaware that Alec and his ancestors are of common stock and have merely assumed a distinguished name to enhance their status. Alec is a low tenor/baritone, singing up to F sharp 4.

The ensemble cover SATB harmonies in choral work. In practice, “sopranos” can be mezzos with a good reach and “basses” can be sung by baritones. There is potential to use the actors playing Alec & Angel during extended periods of downtime to (subtly) enhance the ensemble.

Age: 40s/50s. John Durbeyfield is a middle-aged haggler who travels from place to place selling his goods, providing a meagre subsistence for his family. In ill health and often “under the influence,” his and his wife’s shiftlessness and negligence have not provided the most secure of upbringings for his daughter Tess. Parson Clare is a puritanical Christian, rigid in his tenets, but compassionate and empathetic nonetheless. Dairyman Crick is middle-aged, humorous and worldly, though somewhat rustic and old-fashioned.

Age: 20s/30s + (flexible). Parson Tringham is an antiquary, sententious and self-important. His revelation to John Durbeyfield of the latter’s illustrious lineage is the catalyst for the story’s tragedy. The Bailiff is a steward of Alec’s family home. Lecherous in drink towards Tess, his pass at her causes a fight from which Alec extracts Tess and leads her to her downfall. The Landlord is a steadfast figure, evicting Tess’s family from their long-standing home because of Tess’s status as a “fallen woman.” He represents society’s orthodoxy and unfeelingness towards those unfortunate enough to transgress its mores.

Age: 20s. Cuthbert is one of Angel’s brothers, a Reverend at Cambridge University – Fellow and Dean of his College. A classical scholar, he follows in his father’s footsteps with regard to faith. The Man greets Joan, Tess and Lisa-Lu at Kingsbere following their eviction and tells them that no rooms are available to let in the town of their ancestors. The Policeman arrests Tess at Stonehenge and takes her to her prison awaiting trial and execution for the murder of Alec.

Age: 20s. Felix is one of Angel’s brothers, quieter and more self- contained than Cuthbert, but equally studious and obedient.

Age: 40s/50s. Joan is a middle-aged woman, as shiftless as her husband, with the habitual mentality of a happy child. Mrs D’Urberville is the elderly, blind head of the sham D’Urberville family. Mrs Clare is wife to Parson Clare and mother to Angel, puritanical and somewhat lofty in thought and manner.

Age: teens/early 20s. Retty is a servant at Talbothays Dairy. Innocent, sweet-natured, and more timid than her fellow milkmaids.

Age: 20s/30s. Marian is a servant at Talbothays Dairy. In love with Angel, she is more of a pragmatist than her fellow milkmaids. The Landlady runs the boarding-house in which Alec and Tess reside.

Age: 20s. Izz is a servant at Talbothays Dairy. In love with Angel, her sparky, positive temperament enables her to better cope than her fellow maids the “loss” of Angel to Tess.