Auditions - "Black Coffee" at Studio Playhouse

DATES: Sun. Oct. 13th at 6:00pm
            Mon. Oct. 14th at 7:30pm

This little known mystery will surprise and delight Christie fans when a physicist named Sir Claude Amory, who has come upwith a formula for an atom bomb is poisoned (in his coffee, naturally) and Hercule Poirot is called in to solve the case. Notbefore many wonderful twists and turns in true Christie tradition.

Written By: Agatha Christie / Directed by Laura Byrne-Cristiano

CAST OF CHARACTERS
All characters (except those noted below) Speak with an educated British accent. Think Downton Abbey,Upstairs Downstairs, Colin Firth, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith and Emma Thompson for examples.
Dr. Carelli-speaks with an Italian accent that does not have to be that authentic.
Inspector Japp is decidedly working class. His accent is more rough, less polished. Think the servants ofDownton Abbey or the Northerners of Game of Thrones. Think more Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins, CatherineTate, and Sean Bean for examples.

Miss Treadwell (female, late 20’s-60’s) She is the faithful servant, but at the same time knows all “the dirtylaundry” of her employers.
Sir Claud Amory: (male, 50’s+) He is the irascible Lord of the manor, who has no affection for his relatives andis devoted solely to his scientific discoveries.
Caroline Amory: (female, 50’s+) Claud’s dotty younger, maiden sister who never stops talking. She is veryconservative, innocent, and prone to not quite getting the full picture of what goes on around her. She has no ideathat half of what she says is funny and often inappropriate.
Richard Amory: (male, early 30’s-mid 40’s) He is the only son of Claud Amory. He’d rather pursue a militarycareer then be under his father’s thumb. He’s not stupid, but he’s not the scientific genius that his father is. Newlymarried, he is very much in love with his wife Lucia who he married after a brief whirlwind courtship.
Lucia Amory: (female, mid 20’s-mid 30’s) She is Richard’s half-English and half-Italian wife who was largelyraised throughout the European continent. She speaks perfect English with an English accent. She is devoted to herhusband, but has a mysterious past and is obviously hiding something.
Barbara Amory: (female, mid 20’s to mid 30’s) She is Claud’s niece and relies upon him for support as she isorphaned. She is a very modern young woman who speaks her mind, and who likes to live a bit on the wild side.She wants a husband to take her away from her dreary life.
Edwina Raynor: (female, 30’s -40’s) Sir Claud’s faithful secretary. Who is observant and intelligent, andsomewhat reserved. One of the few people who actually understands his scientific discoveries and is capable oforganizing his notes.
Dr. Carelli: (male, 30’s-60’s) A mysterious visitor who claims to be an old friend of Lucia’s family. Equallycharming and suspicious. Speaks with an Italian accent (not necessarily a good one). The character can be played as a real Italian or someone pretending to be a real Italian)
Dr. Graham: (male, 30’s+) Sir Claud’s doctor, and intelligent man who is not fooled by flattery or easilyinfluenced. Very logical and capable of presenting the facts as he sees them.
Hercule Poirot: (male, 40’s+) A famous detective from Belgium (slight accent) hired by Sir Claud to investigatea theft and death threats. He later ends up investigating Sir Claud’s murder. He has a great sense of dry humor anda sense of the ironic. Oftentimes only Hastings gets his jokes.
Captain Hastings: (male, 30’s+) He is Poirot’s right-hand-man. Not quite as astute as Poirot, but by no meansstupid. He often acts as Poirot’s sounding board, and evaluates theories and offers conjecture. He has a great senseof humor and is generally good-natured.
Inspector Japp: (male, 30’s+) In charge of the local police. He and Poirot have worked a previous case. He respects Poirot and Hastings very much. He’s not what you would call a polished man, a bit rough around the edges prone to saying what he thinks too loudly rather than being diplomatic. Nonetheless, he is respected as an officer of the law by both Poirot and Hastings.

Sides will be provided.

Performance dates: January 10 – 25, 2014
STUDIO PLAYERS
14 Alvin Place, Upper Montclair, NJ ~ 973.744.9752
www.studioplayhouse.org ~ www.facebook.com/studioplayhouse