Auditions upcoming for Milton theatre group’s fall production of Murder on the Orient Express

The next show on The Milton Players Theatre Group calendar may not be opening until November, but auditions are just around the corner.

If you’re interested in a role in Agatha Christie’s Murder On The Orient Express, be ready to take to the stage Sunday, May 28, from 2 to 5 p.m. and Monday, May 29, from 7 to p.m. If needed, callbacks will be Tuesday, May 30, from 7 to 10 p.m.

Directors Brian Cranford and Sandy Ingratta are hosting the auditions at St. Paul’s United Church, 123 Main St. E.

A monologue not required, just a cold read from the script. There is no need to book an audition time as the directors will be pairing actors in various roles to play off of each other.

People are asked show up at the beginning of auditions Sunday or Monday and be prepared to stay until the end.

Here are the characters that will be cast:

• Hercule Poirot – (Belgian accent, 40-50s) To be portrayed as the well known character with his iconic mustache, serious, deductive, driven and meticulous. Aware of his ability and slightly pompous.
• Monsieur Bouc – (Belgian accent, 30-50s) Director of Wagon-Lit, the train company that owns the Orient Express, a good humoured man, generous and welcoming.
• Mary Debenham – (English accent, 20-30s) She is a Governess, professional yet anxious with a sadness about her.
• Hector MacQueen – (American accent, 30-40s) Secretary to Mr. Ratchett, punctual, nervous and strained.
• Michel the Conductor – (French accent, 40-50s) Professional, polite, and quiet with good humour.
• Princess Dragomiroff – (Russian accent, 50-70s) Exiled Russian Princess, regal, commanding, intimidating with a no-nonsense demeanor.
• Greta Ohlsson – (Swedish accent, 20-40s) Nanny and missionary, plain, timid, oddly reactionary and religiously devout.
• Countess Andrenyi – (Hungarian accent, 20-30s) She is a trained doctor, elegant, intelligent, warm and kind with a quiet strength.
• Helen Hubbard – (American, 40-60s) Wealthy American, eccentric, flamboyant, outspoken, jovial and flirtatious.
• Colonel Arbuthnot – (Scottish accent, mid 20-40s) Serious, very matter of fact and protective.
• Samuel Ratchett – (American, 40-60s) American businessman and ex-gangster, demanding, brisk, unforgiving and domineering.
• Head Waiter (may double with Michel the Conductor) – French or Turkish accent, snooty and smooth talker. Minor role willing to help backstage and in ensemble crowd scenes.

The play is Ken Ludwig’s thrilling adaptation of one of Agatha Christie’s greatest novels. This classic boasts all the glamour, intrigue and suspense expected with a dose of humour.

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.

Isolated and with a killer in their midst, the eclectic collection of passengers must rely on the world famous detective Hercule Poirot to identify the murderer before they decide to strike again.

The show will run in early November at at The First Ontario Arts Centre Milton.

For more information, email [email protected].