Adapted by Ken Ludwig
Directed by Connie Mockenhaupt

When: Sunday, January 22 at 7:00pm
Where: Sutter Street Theatre Annex, 710 Figueroa Street, Folsom

REHEARSALS: January 30 – March 2 on Mondays through Thursdays at 7:00pm.
PERFORMANCES: March 3 – April 2 on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm and Sundays at 4:30pm

WHAT TO BRING: A resume and head shot if you have them. Auditions will be cold readings
from the script.

SYNOPSIS: 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.

Character Descriptions:

Hercule Poirot: Male, 55-65
A famous Belgian detective; a "Big" personality; authoritative, witty, charismatic and slightly
pompous; driven to find the answers, good or bad, with a strong moral sense; very aware of his
ability and his well deserved reputation.

Monsieur Bouc: Male, 30s-60s
A Belgian man of good humor; playful, proud, generous; a predilection for grandeur; a
whirlwind of energy; must be an excellent comedian.

Mary Debenham: Female, 30s-40s
An English beauty; a governess, capable yet romantic; a sadness around her eyes and a
hardness about her person.

Hector MacQueen: Male, 30s-40s
Tightly wound, edgy and nervous; he seems to always be on the verge of falling apart or coming
unwound.

Michel the Conductor/Marcel: Male, 30s-60s
One actor will play two roles: Michel: a good-looking Frenchman, about 40, a quiet, almost
grave sense of humor; unfailingly polite; Marcel: a Turkish waiter, snooty, smooth; must have
great comic timing.

Princess Dragomiroff: Female, Older
A Russian dowager; very formal, a sweeping, impressive presence; imperial, impatient.

Greta Ohlsson: Female, 20s-60s
Inherently odd, and very devout Swedish woman; a frightened, sheeplike quality; must be an
excellent comedienne with a Swedish accent.

Countess Andrenyi: Female, 20s-40s
Brilliantly beautiful, like something out of a fairytale; impeccably put together, with a warmth
that wins over everyone she meets; her delicacy belies a steely edge; she is no wilting flower;
Hungarian accent.

Helen Hubbard: Female, 40s-60s
An outspoken and flamboyant American from the Midwest; jovial, obnoxious, domineering,
deliciously nosy and brash; unapologetic; must be an excellent comedienne.

Samuel Ratchett: Male, 30s-60s
Middle-aged American businessman, evil at heart and frightening, brusque, unforgiving, stern
demeanor; pushy, domineering.

Colonel Arbuthnot: Male 30s-60s
Scotsman, also middle aged, handsome, very matter of fact, occasionally tender; must have
great comic timing.