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CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Hercule Poirot: 40’s-60’s male. A famous and intelligent Belgian detective known for his wit and meticulous nature. He is authoritative, a bit pompous, and driven to solve the case. Must possess some comic timing skills and have a believable Belgian/French accent.

Monsieur Bouc: 40-65 male. A good-natured, energetic, and playful Belgian who is the director of the Orient Express and a friend of Poirot. He must have a French accent.

Mary Debenham: late 30’s to 50 female. a confident, rich, but worried woman. She is in a secret relationship with Col. Arbuthnot, stage-kissing is required for this role. She has a proper, educated British accent. (more ‘educated’ than ‘posh’).

Hector MacQueen: 20’s to 60’s male. Very efficient but slightly nervous assistant to Mr. Ratchett. He is an educated American, no particular dialect required.

Michel the Conductor: 40’s to 60’s male. A competent and organized Frenchman who runs the first-class carriages. He must have a French accent. (This actor may also double as the Head Waiter.)

Princess Dragomiroff: 50’s to 80’s+ female. She exudes aristocracy in everything she does, but she has some funny lines so comic timing is necessary. She has a thick Russian accent and must physically appear advanced in age and completely self-possessed.

Greta Ohlsson: 40’s to 60’s female. Previously a missionary, she is on-hand to assist the elderly Princess Dragamiroff as travel companion. She is gentle and well-meaning, though at times emotional and annoying to the Princess. She has a Swedish/Scandinavian accent and needs to be able to carry awkward luggage.

Countess Andrenyi: late 20’s to early 40’s female. Educated and married into aristocracy, she also has criminology instincts and should have good chemistry with the character of Poirot. She is well-spoken and authoritative but also attractive and mysterious. She has a Hungarian accent.

Helen Hubbard: Loud, pushy and rich American woman with many opinions. She is very comfortable in her own skin and has no trouble speaking her mind. This character has to sing a little (along to the radio) so a pleasant singing voice is appreciated but not mandatory. No particular midwestern dialect is needed but must possess a lot of confidence.

Colonel Arbuthnot: mid-30’s to 50’s male. A former British military, he is crisp and a little secretive. He is in an undisclosed relationship with Mary Debenham, stage-kissing required. He is very protective of Mary but rather gruff with everyone else. He has a Scottish accent. (This actor may also double as Samuel Ratchett)

Samuel Ratchett: 40’s to 70’s male. A suspicious and aggressively-rude ‘businessman’ who is not on this trip to have a good time. (This character is killed early in the play and may be doubled with Col. Arbuthnot or the Head Waiter, but not definitely). He is an American with no particular dialect.

Head Waiter: 20’s to 60’s, foreign dialect required, but we are open to negotiation on which country (could be French, Arabic, possibly other). Could be male or female, but male actors may be double-cast as either Ratchett or Michel. (This is a great part for newer or busier actors as there is minimal dialogue.)

Questions about this audition or production should be sent to: Lisa Boeren, DCT Administrative Manager lboeren@ccbcmd.edu

Tickets may be purchased online:  www.ccbctickets.com or by calling the Box Office (443) 840 – ARTS

Directions to CCBC Dundalk | College Community Center, John E. Ravekes Theatre | www.ccbcmd.edu/dct

Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com