Martin Gray
Martin, a 50 year old architect who is emotionally estranged from his wife Stevie and son Billy, serves as the catalyst for the majority of action in the play. Martin is throughout the play having an intimate affair with Sylvia, who is revealed to be a goat, and the discovery of this affair leads to a breaking down of his interpersonal relationships.
Sylvia
Who is Sylvia? Sylvia is the goat—the actual farm animal—whom Martin falls in love with and expresses sexual desire for. Martin first encountered Sylvia when house-hunting in the country. At the end of the play, Sylvia is killed by Stevie.
Stevie Gray
Martin’s wife and Billy's mother. The marriage between Martin and Stevie seemed to all outside parties considered one of near-perfection. When Stevie receives a letter explaining the nature of Martin's affair, she kills Sylvia out of rage and disgust.
Billy Gray
The 17 year old son of Martin and Stevie, whose antagonism with his father precedes the events of the play. Billy is homosexual, a fact which pushes back against the 'slippery slope' argument by pairing Billy's sexuality with his father's ridiculous and taboo behavior.
Ross Tuttle
Ross Tuttle is a close family friend as well as the host of a television show. Ross is the first to discover Martin's affair, and reveals the news to Stevie through a letter. Ross also shows disapproval towards Martin when he later walks in on the father sharing a kiss with his son, Billy.
