Murder on the Orient Express Auditions

Auditions for Murder on the Orient Express will be held on Sunday, July 25 at 3pm and Monday July 26 at 7pm at ACT in the auditorium.

Famous detective Hercule Poirot is called back from Istanbul to London on urgent business. He intends to book a first-class compartment on the Orient Express, run by his former friend and colleague, Monsieur Bouc. The train is surprisingly full, but Bouc manages to secure Poirot a spot in the first-class cabin. While aboard the Orient Express, Poirot meets a host of peculiar characters: an aging Russian princess, her Swedish companion, a Hungarian countess, a Minnesota housewife, a Scottish colonel, an English governess, a French conductor, a disagreeable American businessman, and his anxious secretary. While aboard the train, the angry businessman, Samuel Ratchett, corners Poirot and demands Poirot to investigate a series of ominous letters that have been sent to Ratchett, threatening his life. 

As a snowdrift halts the Orient Express in its tracks, Ratchett is found stabbed multiple times in his locked train compartment. Poirot is tasked by Monsieur Bouc to solve the murder, as the killer could still be in their midst. As Poirot investigates, conflicting clues and convoluted alibis lead him to dead ends. Over the course of 48 hours, will Poirot be able to solve the case of the Murder on the Orient Express?

Sides - Download these sides to help you prepare

Characters

Regarding ages: some age flexibility is possible, with the following exceptions:

• Michel must be believably old enough to have an adult child.

• Helen Hubbard must be believably old enough to have an adult child in their mid-late 20’s.

  • HERCULE POIROT Male presenting, 40-65, Belgian accent, any ethnicity. 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 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 Male presenting, 40-65, Belgian accent, any ethnicity 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 Female presenting, mid 20s-30s, English (standard) accent, any ethnicity 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. Must be comfortable kissing on stage.

  • COLONEL ARBUTHNOT Male presenting, 30s, Scottish accent, any ethnicity A military man of the old fashioned type, possibly old-money, and used to being obeyed without question. He is strong, charismatic, but also problematic in some of his personal views. Has a temper. Must be comfortable kissing on stage.

  • HECTOR MCQUEEN Male presenting, 23-35, American accent (any), any ethnicity 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 Male presenting, 40s, French accent, any ethnicity 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 Female presenting, 60s-70s, Russian accent, any ethnicity 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 Female presenting, 30s, Swedish* accent, any ethnicity. A Catholic missionary and baby 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 Female presenting, 25-35, Hungarian accent, any ethnicity 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. Must also be able to do an American accent.

  • HELEN HUBBARD Female presenting, 45-60, harsh American accent, any ethnicity 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 RATCHETT Male presenting, 35-50, American accent (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.