Actors Needed for "Murder on the Orient Express" Play Audition

(French/Belgian accent): Meticulous and exacting, Poirot is a keen observer of detail and an astute judge of character. He is moral and intellectual, with a strong sense of right and wrong that guides him even when he doesn't follow the law. He's also somewhat fussy and vain, and enjoys creature comforts.

(French): A young or middle-aged man of good humor, Monsieur Bouc is an old friend of Poirot’s and is a director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits which operates the Orient Express. He is mildly impressed with his own importance on the train, but not in an arrogant way. He appears removed from the crime, often acting as Poirot’s sounding board, much like Captain Hastings in the Christie novels. (Think “a French Dr. Watson.”)

(American accent): An American businessman and the play’s murder victim, Ratchett is brusque and unforgiving, with a threatening demeanor and a whiplash of a voice. He’s made plenty of enemies… almost everyone has wished him dead. Note: The actor who is cast will double with Colonel Arbuthnot (described below) and must display two distinct characters.

(Scottish): A Scotsman, Arbuthnot is handsome and very matter of fact. He’s hopelessly in love with Mary Debenham. Note: The actor who is cast will double with Samuel Ratchett (described above) and must display two distinct characters.

(Hungarian): Brilliantly beautiful and always dressed to the nines in furs and diamonds. Christie describes her as “timid and charming…exotic and beautiful.” Note: In the novel and films, the Countess is accompanied by her husband, the Count. The Count does not exist in this adaptation, and Ludwig’s Countess character is somewhat of an amalgamation of the two. She is also a trained physician which serves to eliminate yet another Christie character (the Doctor).

(R.P./standard English): An English beauty in her late twenties, Mary bears a certain sadness in her eyes. When she first appears, she is very anxious.

(Russian): A Russian princess, now in her seventies, described as entering her compartment “like a galleon in full sail.” Expensively dressed and handsomely bejeweled. Described by Christie as “one of the ugliest old ladies Poirot had ever seen. It was an ugliness of distinction – it fascinated rather than repelled.” Speaks in rather autocratic tones to pretty much everyone, especially her lady’s maid.

(Swedish): Plain and modest, Greta has a frightened, sheep-like quality about her.

(French): Professional in demeanor, he is knowledgeable and a bit overconfident, but not arrogant. He has a quiet, almost grave sense of humor. He’s seen a lot in his years on the Orient Express, and he knows his way around the train. Note: This role is doubled, but the two characters may not need to be highly differentiated.

(Any American accent): An outspoken, entitled wealthy American in her fifties, well dressed with a touch of flamboyance, Mrs. Hubbard is a tough-talking broad with rough edge and a bold sense of humor which irritates many of the Europeans.

(Any American accent): Personal secretary to Mr. A nervous young American with a strained, rather beleaguered face, Hector appears to be suppressing something.