AUDITION NOTICE: Murder on the Orient Express, October 28, 2023

Ottawa Little Theatre presents

Murder on the Orient Express
Written by: Agatha Christie
Adapted by: Ken Ludwig

Directed by: Venetia Lawless & Lindsay Laviolette

Production Dates:
February 28 – March 16, 2024 at 7:30 pm (Wednesdays – Saturdays) and matinees on March 3 & 10 at 2:30 pm (Sundays)

There is also a preview performance Sunday February 25, 2023.

All actors must be available for all performances. 

Open Call Audition:
Auditions for the first show of the 2024 season will be held on:

Saturday, October 28, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to fill out your audition card – onstage readings will commence at 2:00pm sharp.

Audition Location:
Ottawa Little Theatre
400 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa
(Please use 235 Besserer Street entrance.)

Synopsis:
The exotic Orient Express is about to go off the rails. With a train full of remarkable suspects and an alibi for each one, it’s the perfect mystery for detective Hercule Poirot.

Character Descriptions
**Please note that the accent identification for characters is not indicative of any proscribed race or ethnicity. We welcome all actors of any gender identity or expression, race, or ethnicity to audition.**

DETECTIVE HERCULE POIROT
Gender – Male
Age Range – 40-65
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.

MONSIEUR BOUC:
Gender – Male
Age Range – 40-64
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.

MARY DEBENHAM:
Gender – Female
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. Stage kiss required.

COLONEL ARBUTHNOT (doubles as Samuel Ratchett):
Gender – Male
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. Stage kiss required.

HECTOR McQUEEN:
Gender – Male
Age Range – 23-35
Accent – American
Personal assistant and secretary to Samuel Ratchett, McQueen is a nervous character with a stutter that appears when he is especially anxious. Seems rather new to his profession. Talks a bit too much.

MICHEL (doubles as Head Waiter):
Gender – Male
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 is very good at his job.
Note: This actor will double as the Head Waiter of the Tokatilian Hotel, and will also need to be able to do a Turkish accent.

PRINCESS DRAGOMIROFF
Gender – Female
Age Range – 50s-70s
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.

GRETA OHLSSON:
Gender – Female
Age Range – 30s
Accent – Swedish
A Catholic missionary and pediatric nurse, currently serving as a companion to Princess Dragomiroff. She would like to help small children in Africa. Deeply devout. This character may be funny, but should not be played as a caricature for laughs.

COUNTESS ANDRENYI:
Gender – Female
Age Range – 25-35
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.

HELEN HUBBARD:
Gender – Female
Age Range – 45-60
Accent – American
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. Should also be able to pull off a cooler, more calculated version of this character with a very standard or even cultured American accent.

SAMUEL RACHETT (doubles as Colonel Arbuthnot):
Gender – Male
Age Range – 35-50
Accent – American (mobster – possibly Brooklyn or Chicago-style)
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.

Sides:
The following is an identification of audition sides relevant to each of the characters. Sides are linked below.

Please note that the accent identification for characters is not indicative of any proscribed race or ethnicity.

We welcome all actors of any gender identity or expression, race, or ethnicity to audition.

Copies of the sides will also be available at the audition.

Hercule Poirot (Side 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 12)
Monsieur Bouc (Side 6, 11)
Mary Debenham (Side 10, 12)
Hector MacQueen (Side 8, 11)
Michel/Head Waiter (Side 4, 5, 6)
Princess Dragomiroff (Side 3, 4, 12)
Greta Ohlsson (Side 3, 4, 12)
Countess Adrenyi (Side 7, 12)
Helen Hubbard (Side 8, 9, 12)
NOTE: Side 9 is read as Linda Arden (Hubbard’s true identity)
Colonel Arbuthnot (Side 10, 12)
Samuel Ratchett (Side 7)

Side 1
Side 2
Side 3
Side 4
Side 5
Side 6
Side 7
Side 8
Side 9
Side 10
Side 11
Side 12