King Hedley II
An African-American man in his 30’s who makes a living selling stolen refrigerators following his recent release from prison. He dreams of going into legitimate business for himself by going in together with a friend to open what he senses is a burgeoning idea about to go big: a video store. The play is set in the mid-1980’s.
Mister
Hedley’s friend, neighbor and partner-in-crime in the stolen refrigerator biz. When that enterprise is proven to clearly be a non-starter for gaining the investment money for the video store, he also becomes King’s partner in robbing a jewelry store.
Ruby
Ruby is King’s mother. She first appears in Wilson’s earlier play Seven Guitars as a young woman pregnant with the boy who will be king. The mother has convinced the son that Hedley the name of his father, but a blast from Ruby’s past is about to reveal a long-hidden secret.
Elmore
A beau from Ruby’s past who shows up again still as charming as ever. Elmore can see death approaching, however, and wants to right the wrongs that have been chewing at his conscience. One of those things is that he killed King’s father who was not, it turns out, Hedley but a completely different person altogether.
Tonya
King’s wife who at age 35 is already a grandmother. Because of this, she would rather consider an abortion than bringing a new life into a world in which the child’s father is back in jail and there is no hope for any improvement in their circumstances.
Stool Pigeon
King’s neighbor who works more as a metaphorical figure than an actual element impacting the plot. He opens the play with a monologue spoken to a cat to which he’s brought ham which waxes philosophic upon a divine plan for everything. God’s hand in everything ends the play by providing some fresh blood for the cat’s grave.
