When analyzing the characters from the play “Dinner with Friends” a good place to start would be with Gabe. A food critic in his 40s, he has known Tom since college and set him up with his wife Beth over a decade ago. It can be imagined that Gabe is tall and in decent shape with a swimmer’s build and dark hair. Gabe can also have dark, wavy hair, dress well, is for the most part calm and able to function under pressure. The audience can also imagine that Gabe is very intelligent and a friendly person. The actor that this writer would choose to cast as Gabe would be Tom Hanks. He meets the physical characteristics imagined for the character as well as the implied personality elements previously described. Additionally, the majority of the actor’s work involves strong positive male characters who face adversity and win. This can be said about Gabe to an extent.

The next character in the play that needs to be analyzed is Gabe’s wife Karen. She is also in her 40’s and works as a publisher. Karen always comes off as chipper, friendly, and always is a gracious hostess. She also had a role in setting up Tom and Beth when they were all at Martha’s Vineyard, but when news of their breakup is given to her, she begins to question how solid her own marriage is. She could be described as shorter, medium build, and having a great deal of energy. The actress that should be cast as Karen would be Meg Ryan because she not only fits all of the outlined characteristics, but she is also a good compliment to Tom Hanks as Gabe. The two actors have previously worked together and have an established chemistry that would translate well in the play. Having actors in the same play with previous working experience is advantageous because it puts the entire cast at ease with a positive working environment.

Tom is the next character that will be analyzed for this assignment. He is also in his 40s, works as a lawyer, and is very needy. He seems to struggle with being happy and satisfied with his life, and is known for cheating. Tom and Beth and divorcing, which gives their friends Gabe and Karen a great deal of anxiety since they are the ones who introduced Tom and Beth to begin with. Tom would look similar to Gabe, but perhaps have an unconventional sense of physical attractiveness. The actor that should play Tom should be Gary Sinise because not only does he meet the criteria outlined here, but his performance would greatly compliment that of Tom Hanks. As previously mentioned, actors who have worked together previously make for a better overall viewing experience. Additionally, there are several roles Sinise has been previously cast in that required the level of psychological preparation like Tom, which is a strong attribute for the actor.

The last character that will be analyzed in this assignment is Tom’s wife Beth. Also in her 40s, she is an artist who is a deep thinker and is emotional in nature. Her artistic sense shows in her manner of dress and how she presents herself to others. She is a friend of Karen, who is Gabe’s wife. Beth is feeling abandoned by her husband Tom but tries her best to move on with her life. Beth should be played by Kathleen Quinlan. She meets the expectations of the physical as well as the emotional characteristics of Beth. Quinlan has also worked previously with Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise, so she would mesh well with the other actors to make a superior production of the play.