A Murder is Announced
by Leslie Darbon
Adapted from Agatha Christie’s novel
Auditions will be held from 7:00 to 9:30 pm on March 9th and 10th (Sunday and Monday) at Bedford Players Theatre (upper-level parking lot at All Saints Anglican Church) 1408 Bedford Highway.
About the play:
A startling notice in the local paper announces that a murder is scheduled to take place at 6:30 PM on Friday the 13th at “Little Paddocks,” the Victorian home of Miss Blacklock. What follows is a classic Christie murder mystery filled with various motives and memorable characters. Thankfully, Miss Marple is on the scene and joins forces with a resolute inspector to follow the intricate twists and turns of the case and as she embarks on finding the solution, Miss Marple faces a dramatic confrontation…with a killer!
“A Murder Is Announced” is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
Notes for auditioners:
- No prepared piece is required for this audition. Individual auditions on a first-come first-serve basis will be carried out using excerpts from the script which will be provided on site.
- Auditions will begin at 7:00 pm on both nights.
- Rehearsals will be 3 times per week, Sunday, Monday & Thursday at 7:00 p.m., beginning with a read-through on Sunday, March 16, 2025 and continuing through to Tuesday, June 3, 2025.
- Performances will be Thursdays to Sundays, June 5 to 21, 2025.
- See below for character descriptions. Age ranges are flexible.
- To audition, please register for the date of your choosing by completing our online audition form at A Murder is Announced – Audition Form
Characters:
- Miss Marple (60yrs+) Spinster – amateur detective, observant and clever
- Letitia “Letty” Blacklock (50yrs+) Heiress and owner of Little Paddocks – elegant, intelligent, giving
- Dora “Bunny” Bunner (50+yrs) Childhood friend of Mrs Blacklock – sweet, absent-minded, a bit of an over-sharer, a resident of Little Paddocks
- Philippa Haymes (mid-20s) Lodger at Little Paddocks – widow, horticulturalist, elegant, polite and serious
- Patrick Simmons (mid-20s) Nephew of Mrs Blacklock – University Student, sarcastic, enjoys teasing his sister, Julia, a resident of Little Paddocks
- Julia Simmons (mid-20s) Sister of Patrick – Pharmacy assistant, well-spoken, elegant, enjoys the finer things in life, a resident of Little Paddocks
- Edmund Swettenham (mid-20s) Aspiring author – cynical, well read, a bit out-spoken, lives with his mother
- Mrs Swettenham (45yrs+) Neighbour to Mrs Blacklock – Nosey, overbearing mother
- Mitzi (20s-40s) Hungarian cook/housekeeper at Little Paddocks – she is excitable, very paranoid, and has a temper
- Inspector Craddock (40yrs+) Police Inspector – He is serious, experienced and a bit gruff
- Sergeant Mellors (20s-40ys) Police Sergeant – eager, helpful
- Rudi Scherz (early 20s) Uninvited guest at Little Paddocks – small role, he is on stage briefly
To audition, please register for the date of your choosing by completing our online audition form at A Murder is Announced – Audition Form
Questions can be directed to the Director at Director at director3@bedfordplayers.ca
