Artie is the older, sad-sack producer. He is less intellectually inclined than the others but is the source of much of the "material" (drugs and women) that keeps their twisted party going. He represents the washed-up old guard of Hollywood.
These roles are flexible: every member may shift in different scenes, producing a dynamic ensemble rather than fixed types. The made-up name permits endless reimagining—each reading supplies its own personalities. hurleypurley foursome