Auditions: Feb 4 and 5, Sherman Community Players, Murder on the Orient Express

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AUDITION NOTICE FOR

Agatha Christie’s MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS 

Adapted by Ken Ludwig

SHERMAN COMMUNITY PLAYERS

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Director: Joe Barr

Assistant Director: Pam Sanza

AUDITION DATES: Sunday & Monday, February 4th and 5th, 2024 at 6:30pm.

Callbacks will be Tuesday, February 6th at 6:30pm, if necessary. 

LOCATION: Finley Theater, 500 North Elm Street, Sherman 75090

OPEN AUDITIONS: Auditions will be held in an open format and will consist of cold readings from the play. If you would like to get a copy of the sides before the auditions, please contact Pam Sanza at pam@scptheater.org.  Please bring an updated acting resume and a headshot. If you don’t have either, that’s okay…just show up!

PERFORMANCE DATES: April 5,6,7 | 11,12,13,14 | 18,19,20,21 - 2024

PERFORMANCE TIMES: 7:30pm & 2:00pm (Sunday performances)

Possible Sponsor Show: April 10th or 17th, 7:00pm

Read Through: Wednesday, Feb 7th, rehearsals begin Feb 26th. Rehearsals will run Sunday-Thursday 6:30pm-10:00pm.

SUMMARY: Winter 1934 - Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one passenger fewer. Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the passengers rely on detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer – in case he or she decides to strike again.

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

  • Hercule Poirot: Belgian, slight Belgian accent. 50’s.  The play also requires some additional language skills. French and Hungarian speaking lines. Periot is a retired Belgian police officer. Poirot is Agatha Christie's most famous detective and is known for his short stature and long, curly mustache. Poirot is very intelligent, extremely aware and instinctual and is a brilliant detective. 
  • Monsieur Bouc: Belgian, slight Belgian accent. 50’s.  The director of the Compagnie Wagon Lits and formerly worked for the Belgian police force with Poirot. Traveling on the Orient Express, M. Bouc asks Poirot to take the case. M. Bouc provides comic relief in the novel, constantly frustrated with the case and confused by Poirot.
  • Mary Debenham: English, British accent desired. Late 20s to Early 30s. Daisy Armstrong's governess. Mary Debenham is a calm, cool and unruffled lady, instrumental in the planning of Ratchett's murder. Poirot is most suspicious of Mary because of conversation he overheard between herself and Colonel Arbuthnot on the train to Stamboul. Requires on stage kiss. 
  • Hector MacQueen: American, may be played with Standard American accent or regional accent from New York. Mid to late 30’s. Ratchett's personal secretary. Hector is truly in cahoots with the Armstrong family. McQueen tries too hard to tell Poirot that Ratchett did not speak any French—making him an immediate suspect in the case.
  • Michel the conductor (Doubles as Head Waiter): French, French Accent. 40’s. Father of the suicidal nursemaid of Daisy Armstrong, is the Conductor of the Orient Express. Pierre, like the other servants does not initially receive much scrutiny—he is not a top suspect. 
  • Princess Dragomiroff: Russian, Russian accent. Mid to late 60’s. A Russian princess. Princess Dragomiroff is a generally despicable, bitter “old” lady. She is the owner of the famous "H" handkerchief found in Ratchett's room and tells Poirot many lies about the other passenger's identities.
  • Greta Ohlsson: Swedish, Swedish accent. Early 30’s. The Swedish lady was Daisy Armstrong's nurse and is a very delicate type—not meant for murder.
  • Ratchet: American, may be played with Standard American accent or regional accent from New York. Late 30’s to Mid 50’s. Real name Cassetti, kidnapped and murdered the young Daisy Armstrong for money. The Armstrong family murders Ratchett because he escaped punishment in the U.S. Poirot describes Ratchett as a wild animal.
  • Countess Andrenyi: Hungarian, Hungarian accent. Mid 20’s.  The sister of Sonia Armstrong. Because the Countess is closest to the Armstrong case, she attempts to conceal her identity by dropping grease on her passport and smudging the name label on her luggage. 
  • Helen Hubbard: American, May be played with Standard American accent or slight regional accent from Minnesota. 50’s. Really Linda Arden, famous actress and grandmother of Daisy Armstrong. Mrs. Hubbard provides constant interruption and diversion on the train and is known for her stories about her daughter. Mrs. Hubbard's compartment is next to Ratchett's.
  • Colonel Arbuthnot: Scotsman with a Scottish Accent, mid 30s to early 40s.  A friend of Colonel Armstrong, and father of Daisy Armstrong. Like Mary Debenham, Poirot suspects him because he called Mary by her first name on the train to Stamboul. Colonel Arbuthnot is hard-willed, and polite. Requires on stage kiss.

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