Play

Murder on the Orient Express

Details

Union:

Union

Area of media:

Play

Network:

Paid?:

Yes

Rates:

CTA A House

Deadline:

Feb 10, 2025

Auditions:

By appointment only.

Cities for response:

Toronto

Comments

Ethnocultural mandate or casting statement:

Theatre Aquarius encourages any and all who self-identify as members of equity-seeking groups to audition. This includes, but is not limited to, any individuals identifying as IBPOC, LGBTQ2IA+, d/Deaf, living with disabilities, and/or facing other systemic barriers in our industry. The audition, rehearsal, and performance spaces at the Irving Zucker Mainstage are accessible and free of physical barriers.

Storyline

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express
Adapted by Ken Ludvig

Play description-
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. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, his door locked from the inside. 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.

Roles

Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	DETECTIVE HERCULE POIROT	40 - 65 Years old
Description Character is male presenting Age Range – 40-60's Accent – Belgian Iconic character. Agatha Christie’s most famous detective. Poirot is fastidious, thorough, a touch ridiculous, and incredibly observant and intelligent. He is both arrogant and humble to a fault. He is an observer of people, astute at analyzing why people behave as they do, and firmly believes that most crimes can be solved primarily by observation, psychology, and thinking them through. He values intelligence and the rule of law above all else.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	MONSIEUR BOUC	40 - 65 Years old
Description Character is male presenting Age Range – 40-60's Accent – Belgian The owner of Wagon Lit, Orient Express. Bouc is a middle-aged man with a youthful vigor and attitude. Gregarious, honest and forthright, he puts his friends and customers above profit, although he is concerned about his company’s image. He is not a match for Poirot in intelligence, however.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	MARY DEBENHAM	25 - 35 Years old
Description Character is female presenting Age Range – mid 20s-30s Accent – English (standard) A governess. Anxious, but also cool and determined, Mary has a certain sadness about her, as well as many secrets. She is carrying on a secret affair with Colonel Arburthnot.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	COLONEL ARBUTHNOT	30 - 40 Years old
Description Character is male presenting Age Range – 30s Accent – Scottish A military man of the old-fashioned type, possibly old-money, and used to being obeyed without question. He is strong and charismatic, but also problematic in some of his personal views. Has a temper. In a secret relationship with Mary Debenham. Doubles as Samuel Ratchett.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	HECTOR McQUEEN	25 - 35 Years old
Description Character is male presenting Age Range – 23-35 Accent – American Personal assistant and secretary to Samuel Ratchett, McQueen is a nervous character who appears new to his job. Talks too much.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	MICHEL	40 - 50 Years old
Description Character is male presenting Age Range – 40s Accent – French (Michel) & Turkish (Head Waiter) Competent and organized, Michel is the conductor for the first-class carriages of the Orient Express. Handles himself well in a crisis and good at his job. Note: This actor will double as the Head Waiter of the Tokatilian Hotel. Doubles as Head Waiter.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	PRINCESS DRAGOMIROFF	50 - 75 Years old
Description Character is female presenting Age Range – 50s + Accent – Russian Displaced Russian nobility. The Princess is a battleship: determined, arrogant, and accustomed to getting her way. She travels a great deal and holds very decided opinions.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	GRETA OHLSSON	30 - 40 Years old
Description Character is female presenting Age Range – 30s Accent – Swedish A missionary and pediatric nurse, currently serving as a companion to Princess Dragomiroff.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	COUNTESS ANDRENYI	25 - 0 Years old
Description Character is female presenting Age Range – 25+ Accents – Hungarian and American In addition to being married to a count (and thus, nobility), she also is a doctor. Beautiful, educated, charming, and intelligent enough to match wits with Poirot.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	HELEN HUBBARD	45 - 0 Years old
Description Character is female presenting Age Range – 45+ Accent – American Not exactly what she seems, Hubbard comes across as a gregarious American busybody who has been married multiple times. Must be able to sing with some dance ability. Should also be able to pull off a cooler, more calculated version of this character.
Role type	Role	Gender & Age range
Lead	SAMUEL RACHETT	35 - 55 Years old
Description Character is male presenting Age Range - 35-55 Accent - American A dangerous man, full of entitlement, with a hair-trigger temper. Doubles as Colonel Arbuthnot

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