[NEohioPAL] Auditions: Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express (9/22 - 9/23), Chagrin Falls

[Chagrin Valley Little Theatre]

*/AUDITION SLOTS ARE HALF GONE!/*


      Auditions for/Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express/


      Adapted by Ken Ludwig

Performances and auditions at Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, 40 River 
Street, Chagrin Falls OH.

Seeking a versatile ensemble of actors, age 21 and over.  (Many great 
roles for both men and women – including opportunities for middle-aged 
and older actors.)

Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of the Agatha Christie classic boasts all the 
glamour, intrigue and suspense of Dame Agatha’s celebrated novel, with a 
healthy dose of humor to quicken the pace.  Just after midnight, a 
snowdrift stops the Orient Express in its tracks. The luxurious train is 
surprisingly full for the time of the year, but by the morning it is one 
passenger fewer. An American tycoon lies dead in his compartment, 
stabbed eight times, his door locked from the inside. Isolated and 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.

Director: Don Bernardo
Producer:  Kate Williams-Bernardo

*Auditions Dates:*


Sunday, September 22 – 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Monday, September 23 – 6:30pm – 9:00pm

Please arrive at 6:30pm on the day you would like to audition.  Please 
use theSign Up Genius 
<https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054AAEAA2EA46-44616279-cvlt#/>link 
to register to audition.  No specific audition times needed – auditions 
will be conducted as a “cattle call” and consist of cold readings from 
the script.  No preparation needed, however_please note that accents 
will be used_, as noted below.

No callbacks.  Video auditions not accepted.


Register here 
<https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054AAEAA2EA46-44616279-cvlt#/>to 
audition: 
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054AAEAA2EA46-44616279-cvlt#/Audition 
Sign-Up<https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054AAEAA2EA46-44616279-cvlt#/>

*Rehearsals:*

  * First (mandatory) Table Read on Sunday, November 3 starting at 1pm
  * Regular rehearsals running November 17 – January 23 (with time off
    for the Thanksgiving, Christmas and other holidays).
  * Rehearsals generally scheduled 7:00pm to 9:30pm, Sunday thru Thursday.

*Performances:*

  * January 24 – February 2, 2025  (with 2pm matinees on Sunday 2/2 and
    closing night 2/8)

CVLT is a community theatre – no acting roles are compensated.

*Roles**Ava**ilable**(with gender, age ranges and accents/dialects noted):*

  * HERCULE POIROT/(M, mid-40’s to late 50’s, 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.
  * MONSIEUR BOUC/(M, 30+, 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.”)
  * SAMUEL RATCHETT/(M, middle-age, 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.
  * COLONEL ARBUTHNOT/(M, middle age, 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.
  * COUNTESS ELÉNA ANDRENYI/(F, Early 20’s, 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).
  * MARY DEBENHAM/(F, late 20’s early 30’s, 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.
  * PRINCESS DRAGOMIROFF/(F, 60+, 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.
  * GRETA OHLSSON/(F, 40+, Swedish)/: Plain and modest, Greta has a
    frightened, sheep-like quality about her.
  * MICHEL THE CONDUCTOR/HEAD WAITER/(M, any age, 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./
  * HELEN HUBBARD/(F, 40+, 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.
  * HECTOR MacQUEEN/(M, early 30s, any American accent)/:  Personal
    secretary to Mr. A nervous young American with a strained, rather
    beleaguered face, Hector appears to be suppressing something.

In addition to the above roles, the show opens with a pre-recorded scene 
of voices, a Mother, Father, Nanny, and Little Girl.  The role of the 
Little Girl has been cast, and two members of the regular cast will be 
chosen to record the Mother and Father voices.  The voices of the actors 
playing Mary Debenham and Samuel Ratchett’s voices (Nanny and The Man) 
are also featured in that scene.

Complete script is available for purchase at: 
https://www.concordtheatricals.com/

Please address any questions todonbernardo at sbcglobal.net
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