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An elegant winter railway excursion is derailed by a dead body and a trainload full of prime suspects in Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of the classic mystery “Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express”.
A snowdrift stops the luxurious Orient Express in its tracks just after midnight. By morning, an American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated 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.
"Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express" will have 9 performances - April 3-5 at 7 pm; April 6 at 2 pm; April 8-11 at 7 pm; and April 12 at 2pm. The director is Jessica Jolly.
Auditions will take place upstairs at the Playhouse on Main on Monday, February 3 and Tuesday, February 4, starting at 6 pm.
Auditions will consist of cold readings from the play script. A perusal copy of a script is available by request if you send an email to SCT Executive Director Gabe Smith at [email protected].
For additional questions about the show or the auditions, email the director at [email protected].
There are 11 roles available.
HERCULE POIROT – 40s-60s, Belgian accent. Agatha Christie’s most famous detective - fastidious, thorough, a touch ridiculous, and incredibly observant and intelligent. He is both arrogant and humble to 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.
MONSIEUR BOUC – 40s-60s, Belgian accent, 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.
MARY DEBENHAM – 20s-30s, English accent. A governess. Anxious, but also cool and determined, Mary has a certain sadness about her, as well as many secrets.
COLONEL ARBUTHNOT - 30s-40s, Scottish accent. An old-fashioned military man, used to being obeyed without question. He is strong, charismatic, but also problematic and has a dangerous temper.
HECTOR MCQUEEN - 20s-40s, American. Personal assistant and secretary to Samuel Ratchett, McQueen is a nervous character with a stutter that appears when he is especially anxious – talks a bit too much.
MICHEL – 30s and up, French accent. Competent and organized, Michel is the conductor for the first class carriages of the Orient Express. Handles himself well in a crisis and is very good at his job. NOTE: This actor will double as the Head Waiter of the Tokatilian Hotel.
PRINCESS DRAGOMIROFF - 50s and up, Russian accent. Displaced Russian nobility. Determined, arrogant, and accustomed to getting her way. She travels a great deal and holds very decided opinions.
GRETA OHLSSON – 20s-30s, Swedish accent. A Catholic missionary and baby nurse, currently serving as a companion to Princess Dragomiroff. Deeply devout.
COUNTESS ANDRENYI – 20s-30s, Hungarian accent and American accent. 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.
HELEN HUBBARD – 40s-60s, American accent. Not exactly what she seems, Hubbard comes across as a gregarious, loud, obnoxious American busybody who has been married multiple times. Must be able to sing and do a little dancing.
SAMUEL RATCHETT – 30s-50s, American. A dangerous and unlikable man, full of entitlement, with a hair trigger temper. Must have a forceful personality and come across as someone not to be trusted or crossed. As the murder victim, this actor may be required to remain on stage and still for an extended period of time.
“Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
This production is generously sponsored by SGK Landscapes, and it is supported in part by funding from the Mississippi Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Starkville Community Theatre, 108 E Main St,Starkville, Mississippi, United States
