Character Descriptions for Agatha Christie’s Murder on The Orient Express

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Accents are not required for the auditions. A dialect coach will be available for the actors once rehearsals begin
 

Detective Hercule Poirot
Male - Age 45-60
Accent - Belgian but speaks other languages as well.

Poirot is fastidious, through, a touch ridiculous, and incredibly observant and intelligent. He is both arrogant and humble to a fault. He is an observer of people, astute at analyzing why people behave as they do, and firmly believes that most crimes can be solved primarily by observation, psychology, and thinking them through. He values intelligence, and the rule of law above all.

 

Monsieur Bouc
Male - Age 40’s to mid 60’s
Accent – Belgian
The owner of the Wagon lit, Orient Express. Bouc is a middle- aged man with a youthful vigor and attitude. Gregarious, honest, and forthright, he puts friends and customers above profit, although he is concerned about the company’s image. He is not a match for Poirot in intelligence, however.

Mary Debenham
Female – Age mid 20’s to mid 30’s
Accent – English (Standard)
A governess. Anxious, but also cool and determined. Mary has a certain sadness about her, as well as many secrets. She is carrying on a secret affair with Colonel Arbuthnot. May need to kiss onstage.

Colonel Arbuthnot (doubles as Samuel Ratchett)
Male – Age 30’s
Accent - Scottish
A military man of the old-fashioned type, possibly old-money, and used to being obeyed without question. He is strong, charismatic, but problematic in some personal views. Has a temper. May need to kiss onstage.

Hector McQueen
Male – Age mid 20’s to mid-30’s
Accent - American
Personal assistant and secretary to Samuel Rachett, McQueen is a nervous character with a stutter that appears when he is especially anxious. Seems rather new to his profession. Talks too much.

Michel (doubles as head Waiter)
Male - Age 40’s
Accent – French (Michel) & Turkish (Head Waiter)
Competent and organized. Michel is the conductor for the first-class passengers on the Orient Express. Handles himself well in a crisis and is very good at his job. This actor will double as the head waiter of the Tokatilian Hotel and will also need to be able to do a Turkish accent.

Princess Dragomiroff
Female - Age 60’s to 70’s
Accent Russian
Displaced Russian nobility. The Princess is a battleship, determined, arrogant, and accustomed to getting her way. She travels a great deal and holds very decided opinions.

Greta Ohlson
Female – 30’s
Accent – Swedish
A Catholic missionary and baby nurse, currently serving as a companion to Princess Dragomiroff. She would like to help small children in Africa. Deeply devout. This character may be funny but should not be played as a caricature for laughs.

Countess Andrenyi
Female Age mid 20’s to mid 30’s
Accent Hungarian
In addition to being married to a count (and thus nobility), she also is a doctor. Beautiful, educated, charming, and intelligent enough to match wits with Poirot. Will also to do an American accent.

Helen Hubbard
Female – Age mid 40’s to early 60’s
Accent - American
Not exactly what she seems, Hubbard comes across as a gregarious, loudmouth American busybody who has married multiple times, Must be able to sing and do a little dancing. Should also be able to pull off a cooler, more calculated version of this character. Cultured with perhaps hints of being raised in the south.

Samuel Rachett (double as Colonel Arbuthnot)
Male Age – 35-50
Accent – American (mobster – possibly Brooklyn or Chicago-style)
A dangerous and unlikable man, full of entitlement with a hair trigger temper. Must have forceful personality and come across as someone not to be trusted or crossed. This actor may be required to remain on stage and be still for an extended period of time.