Auditions – Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express

Adapted by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Laura W. Andruski

Sunday, February 18 from 1-4 p.m.
Monday, February 19 from 7-10 p.m.

You should only attend one night of auditions.
There are potential callbacks on Wednesday, February 21 from 7-10 p.m.

The Pump House
401 S. Horners Lane
Rockville, MD 20850

(Street parking only.)

All our shows use Open Casting, with no roles pre-selected. RLT is committed to diversity, open to non- traditional casting, and actors of all ethnicities are encouraged to audition. All roles are unpaid.

What to Prepare

Please download, fill out and bring the audition form and conflict sheet with you to the audition.

This audition packet includes everything you need for your audition. Please choose TWO of the short monologues from this packet to prepare for your auditions. Please choose two different characters.

Auditions will also consist of cold readings from the script.

You must be at least 18 years old to audition.

For questions or more information, please contact Laura W. Andruski at 240-242-9735 or email moe@rlt-online.org.

Performance Dates

May 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12 (Mother’s Day), 2024
Six (6) shows total during a two-week run.
Friday & Saturdays @ 8pm
Sundays* @ 2pm

Rehearsal Dates

February 22 – May 2, 2024
Rehearsals are generally held Monday through Thursday evenings, with additional Sunday afternoon rehearsals as needed.

About the Play

From the playwright who brought us “Baskerville” comes another murderously fun ride! One of Agatha Christie’s greatest novels springs to life in this thrilling new stage adaptation. Just after midnight, a snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. By morning, an American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, stabbed eight times and with his door locked from the inside. Was it the Colonel, the Countess, the American Traveler or the Russian Princess? Or perhaps it was the English Beauty, the American Assistant, the French Conductor or the Swedish Missionary. The eccentric collection of passengers become suspects and the world-famous detective Hercule Poirot must identify the murderer before he or she decides to strike again!

Characters

Female Identifying* – 5
Male Identifying** –
7

Hercule Poirot** (Belgian, 40’s – 60’s) World famous detective, meticulous, witty, oddly charismatic in his own way, slightly pompous, passionately driven to find the answers, strong moral compass, very aware of his ability and his well-deserved reputation.
Monsieur Bouc** (Belgian, 30’s – 50’s) Director of Wagon-Lit, the train company that owns the Orient Express, a good humored man, playful, generous, proud, an excellent host with a love of luxury and grandeur.
Mary Debenham* (British, 20’s – 40’s) A governess, capable yet romantic, anxious about her journey on the Orient Express, there is a sadness around her eyes, clearly has a secret and an unknown relationship to Colonel Arbuthnot. 
Hector MacQueen** (American, 20’s – 50’s) Secretary and assistant to Samuel Ratchett, tightly wound, edgy and nervous, always seems to be on the verge of falling apart.
Michel the Conductor** (French, 30’s – 50’s) Polite, hard-working, happy to have a good position on the Orient Express, eager to please. 
Princess Dragomiroff* (Russian, 40’s – 70’s) Royalty, a sweeping, impressive presence, intimidating, impatient, everyone knows when she enters the room.
Greta Ohlsson* (Swedish, 20’s – 40’s) Missionary, inherently odd, very strict and religiously devout, plain with a sheepish, almost frightened quality. Princess Dragomiroff is paying her way in exchange for helping her on her journey.
Countess Andrenyi* (Hungarian, 20’s – 40’s) Beautifully and exquisitely dressed, like something out of a fairy tale, with a warmth that wins over everyone she meets.  Intelligent, her delicacy belies a steely edge; she is no wilting flower. 
Helen Hubbard* (American, 40’s – 70’s) Eccentric, bold and outspoken with a touch of flamboyance, from the American Midwest, jovial, deliciously nosy and brash, often flirtatious.  She can talk to anyone, even if they don’t want to listen.
Colonel Arbuthnot** (Scottish, 20’s – 40’s) Handsome, very matter of fact, clearly has a secret and an unknown connection to Mary Debenham.  He enjoys the sense of adventure that the Orient Express provides; takes charge when he needs to.
Samuel Ratchett** (American, 40’s – 60’s) American businessman with a gangster’s edge, evil at heart and frightening, unforgiving, stern demeanor, pushy, domineering.
Head Waiter** (Turkish, 20’s – 50’s) Snooty and smooth, a (phony) name dropper.