You’re a Big Boy Now

A nineteen-year-old library assistant living under his mother's suffocating care and his father's stern expectations. He is naïve and inexperienced, yet he is drawn to Barbara and longs for independence, stumbling through adult encounters as he tries to find his footing.

A captivating go-go dancer whose allure masks a calculating, narcissistic streak. She wields influence over Bernard while presenting herself as sophisticated, masking deeper traumas and a complicated past that informs her cynicism.

Bernard's grade-school classmate who now has a crush on him. She represents a more straightforward, affectionate path, yet she is drawn into Bernard's tumultuous orbit as he vacillates between her and Barbara.

The nosy, prudish owner of the rooming house who polices Bernard's social life. Her quick judgments and meddling help drive the misunderstandings and misadventures that unfold in the fifth-floor labyrinth.

Bernard's worldly coworker who nudges him toward dating Amy and away from Barbara. His presence highlights the lure of easy access to adult pleasures and the temptations of the social sphere.

Bernard's father, a stern curator of incunabula at the New York Public Library. He emphasizes discipline, status, and old-world expectations, shaping Bernard's sense of duty and his fear of failure.

Bernard's mother, anxiously invested in controlling her son's life. Her constant messaging, including sending locks of hair, underscores the suffocating parental bond that drives Bernard toward independence.

A member of Barbara's backstage circle, part of the theatre world that frames her public persona. Their presence underscores the performative nature of Barbara's life and the line between stagecraft and reality.

Another member of Barbara's backstage team who helps organize her performances. The crew illustrates how much of Barbara's life depends on those who support her public image.

A third backstage contributor to Barbara's artistic world, helping maintain the illusion of glamour while navigating the demands of performance.

The final listed member of Barbara's backstage circle who aids in shaping her onstage persona. Their presence reinforces the collaborative nature of show business behind a star.

A fellow backstage contributor to Barbara's artistic world, representing the multitude of supporting players who enable the star's glittering persona.