Count Almaviva, Governor of Andalusia

Countess Rosine, his wife

Figaro, the Count’s valet and majordomo; engaged to Suzanne

Suzanne, the Countess’ maid; engaged to Figaro

Marceline, the housekeeper; in love with Figaro, unknowingly Figaro’s mother

Antonio, gardener of the castle; uncle of Suzanne, father of Fanchette

Fanchette, daughter of Antonio, girlfriend to many

Chérubin, the Count’s page, the Countess’ godson; in love with every woman

Bartholo, a doctor from Seville; unknowingly Figaro’s father

Bazile, music master to the Countess

Don Guzman Brid’Oison, a judge.*

Doublemain, clerk to Don Guzman Brid’Oison

Gripe-Soleil, a shepherd lad

Pedrillo, the Count’s huntsman

An usher

A shepherdess

An alguazil

A magistrate

Servants, valets, peasants, and huntsmen

* The ridiculous character of Don Guzman was a jab at Beaumarchais’s famous enemy Goëzman.

The role of Chérubin is traditionally played as a trouser role by a woman. Beaumarchais himself said that the reason is because in the original company, there were no boys available who were both the right age and who could understand all the “subtleties” of the role, as most of the character’s comic traits come from the view of an adult looking back on puberty with amusement.

Fanchette is only around 12 years old, and it is notable that at the time, the age of consent throughout most of Europe was around that same age; hence, the revelation that she and the adult Count are sleeping together was not meant to be quite as shocking as it is often perceived these days.