A Play of Archangels in Two Acts by Mike McMillan

Although angels don’t have an "age" as such, Gabriel is the "youngest" in his way of thinking and approach to life. He is enthusiastic, naïve, and occasionally petulant. He likes Raphael, who treats him with the most respect, more than he does the other archangels. He respects Michael and is as close to being afraid of Uriel as an angel can be. His attribute is a trumpet. He is terribly sympathetic to humans without understanding them at all.

Raphael has the greatest identification for, and understanding of, humans (and indeed his fellow archangels). He is a quiet, somewhat scholarly type, but wise and compassionate. He takes Gabriel seriously and has his devotion as a result; but he takes all of them seriously. He is the only other one who understands Uriel’s viewpoint. He is curious and rather puzzled about humanity, but has more insight than the others. His attribute is a book.

Michael is a warrior, but a "career soldier" rather than a militarist. He is straightforward and blunt, but rather fond of Gabriel; doesn’t really understand Raphael’s scholarship or like Uriel’s coldness. He takes his defence of Israel seriously as a job to be done well, but is aware of their faults. His attribute is a spear.

Uriel is also a warrior, but takes it very seriously. He takes everything very seriously and is entirely without a sense of humour. He is cold, hard, and in fact as close to cruel as an unfallen angel can be. While the others call each other Gabby, Rafe and Mike, he calls them by their full names (pronouncing "Michael" with three syllables and the Hebrew "ch"), and they call him by his. He doesn’t understand and doesn’t like humans, but will follow orders without question (and thinks the others should too). His attribute is a (flaming) sword.

The Dispatcher’s voice is heralded by three rising notes, like a PA system at an airport. She also uses full names and is efficient, crisp and impersonal.

Mary’s voice is that of a very ordinary teenager. She shouldn’t sound at all pious or stuffy, but like a real young woman confronted with an astonishing challenge, which she bravely accepts.

The archangels usually use circumlocutions to refer to God, but on the rare occasions when they refer to him directly, it is always as "He" (with the capital and italics clearly audible). The Devil is usually referred to as "that other one", particularly by Michael, who despises him.

The Ready Room contains a table, at which Raphael sits in a folding chair, with his book. He also has a mirror on a stand (pointed away from the audience) which shows him and the others what is happening on Earth. The others also have folding chairs, which are initially against the wall but which they move around as required, sometimes to the table to watch the mirror, other times back to the wall.

There could be a dart board or something of the kind on the wall as well, but otherwise the setting is fairly sparse and military. There is one door.