The five supporting character roles that Sheng plays bring immediacy to the central drama. Sheng's ability to ground his characters in the daily activities of their lives allows the other characters to wallow in their inability to cope. Sheng's Dr. Packard has no qualms about stringing Terry along, holding back answers, taunting him with his addiction to donuts, all to get him to come in for an appointment. He's seen everything and takes no responsibility for his patient's actions, cautioning Terry to do the same. He is dependent on his client for his salary, just as Terry is dependent on him for judgment.
Flounders is another instrumental character in the plot.
As Tanner's ex-boyfriend, he makes Terry understand who Tanner really was through his environment. When he finally calms down enough to answer Terry's questions about Tanner, it's a struggle to call up facts in a coherent order, to recognize significance and meaning. Sheng thrives on the diverse portfolio of characters he creates for the play. At one point he plays three different characters back to back, and he admits it's a challenge to keep them straight, but, he says, it was a risk worth taking. It actually just fell into my lap at the right time, at the right moment.