Geoff are about to have tea when Helen enters with all her luggage. Apparently, she has been thrown out by Peter and now plans to move in with her daughter. To get rid of Geoff, she behaves rudely to him while overwhelming Jo with advice and presents. Jo defends Geoff, but while she is asleep, Geoff decides to leave because Helen is determined and he does not want Jo to be pulled between them. Jo wakes, and Helen pretends that Geoff is out doing the shopping. When her mother learns that the baby will be black, she loses her nerve and rushes out for a drink, even though Jo's labour pains have begun. Alone, Jo comforts herself by humming a tune Geoff used to sing, still not realising that he has in fact gone... Characters Helen: A hardened, working-class, single mother and alcoholic Josephine, her teenage daughter, known as Jo, raised solely by Helen Peter: Helen's younger, wealthy boyfriend from London The Boy: Also known as Jimmy, a black sailor, with whom Jo falls in love and becomes pregnant Geoffrey: An art student in his early 20s who becomes Jo's roommate and friend Productions Original cast and crew (1958, London) Helen – Avis Bunnage Josephine – Frances Cuka Peter – Nigel Davenport The Boy – Clifton Jones Geoffrey – Murray Melvin The Apex Jazz Trio – Johnny Wallbank (cornet), Barry Wright (guitar), Christopher Capon (double bass) Setting by John Bury Costumes by Una Collins Broadway cast (1960) Helen – Angela Lansbury Josephine – Joan Plowright Peter – Nigel Davenport The Boy – Billy Dee Williams Geoffrey – Andrew Ray Broadway revival cast (1981) Helen – Valerie French Josephine – Amanda Plummer Peter – John Carroll The Boy – Tom Wright Geoffrey – Keith Reddin Watford Palace cast (UK)(2000) Helen - Gemma Craven Jo - Kaye Wragg Peter - Patrick Baladi The Boy - Mark Springer Geoffrey - Ashley Artus UK Touring Production 2006 Helen – Samantha Giles Josephine – Samantha Robinson Peter – Andonis Anthony Jimmy- Chris Jack Geoffrey – Bruno Langley Royal Exchange Theatre Mancheser, 2008 Helen – Sally Lindsay Josephine – Jodie McNee Peter – Paul Popplewell Jimmy – Marcel McCalla Geoffrey – Adam Gillen Royal National Theatre 2014 Helen – Lesley Sharp Jo – Kate O'Flynn Jimmy – Eric Kofi Abrefa Peter – Dean Lennox Kelly Geoffrey – Harry Hepple Belvoir Theatre, Sydney 2018 Helen – Genevieve