I played Senex, the dirty old man, in high school ("You're back!" "She almost broke it!"). I think the Proteans have always been a part of the stage version, especially since they feel so typical of theater of the time.

I am embarrassed to report that nearly all the pictures I took as we prepared for opening night are of denizens of the house of Phyllis Lycus (minor gender change due to lack of males to play parts)... and the people playing those roles realized I was doing it, and told me so... Ah, well. I was certainly clueless at the time.