The whole play is filtered through Ouisa Kittredge. In a sense, she "narrates" the play. Although the segments of the play are acted out for the audience, the events are really presented how Ouisa imagines them or how she has been told they occurred. Ouisa's perception of Paul, his actions, and others' reactions to him form the backbone of the play. She alone among the characters has been emotionally affected by meeting Paul.