Kiera Knightly played Therese strangely, or rather, she played Therese showing her anxiety and neurosis, with all other emotions being an extension of that anxiety. The result is Therese being simultaneously emotional and monotonous; whether this is simply Therese’s character, or some fault in Knightly’s portrayal is thus unclear. In any case, the her anxiety is well developed in the play, with Therese being mostly stiff and silent, and when she does move, it is with incredible energy and violence, and when she speaks, it is strained like shouting, regardless of her actual volume.

Camille is a comedic character for the play, which created a huge shift in tone from the book, which was very serious for the entirety. The actor (Gabriel Ebert) portrayed him as being a grown man retaining a childlike mentality, matching the book, but here with exaggerated foolishness; the discrepancy between the character’s own opinions and the audience’s perceptions of him are the source of irony, especially in his naïveté about Therese and Laurent’s actions.

Madam Raquin (played by Judith Light) is a very emotional character, especially in contrast with Therese, who never shows emotion publicly. This is comedic in her interactions with Camille, but tragic following his death, and later her stroke. Her voice never hides her emotions, and often exaggerates them, which contrasts between Therese, again, and Laurent, who speak more like people than like caricatures. She is also portrayed with energy, despite her age, as she is moving and talking to the other characters even as her health makes it difficult; hr motionless state after her stroke is much more dramatic because of this.

Laurent, like Therese, is a serious character. There are four main characters, Laurent, Therese, Madam, and Camille, but the fact that Laurent and Therese are portrayed so differently than the others puts a clear focus on them as the protagonists, and Madam and Camille supporting them. The actor playing Laurent, Matt Ryan, is especially convincing in portraying his emotions, especially during his obsession with Therese, and later, their mutual guilt over the murder. The result is tha the audience feels they know the thoughts and turmoil of Laurent and Therese, and the other characters feel false and distant.