A Murder is Announced By Agatha Christie – adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon Performance dates 22nd – 27th September 2014 Read through and audition 26th June, 2nd audition 3rd July. Characters 7 females (4 older and 3 younger), 5 males (4 younger and 1 older) Name Ages Miss Marple 50 – 80 Gentle, inquisitive, adorable. Letitia Blacklock 60 – 80 “Letty” owns the house, very kind to her lodgers and Bunny. Dora Bunner 60 – 80 “Bunny” School friend of Letty and of her sister Charlotte . Mrs Swettenham 60 - 80 Lives in the village, mother of Edmund, widow. Julia Simmons 25 – 35 “Sister” of Patrick, distant cousin of Letty, lodger, student. Phillipa Haymes 25 – 35 Working in the area as a gardener, lodger, widow, has a child. Mitzi 25 – 35 Eastern European, cook, very suspicious of police. Patrick Simmons 25 – 35 “Brother” of Julia, student (after war service), lodger. Edmund Simmons 25 – 35 Son of Mrs Swettenham lives in village, “left wing” writer. Rudi Scherz Any age 1 speech – could double as policeman. Inspector Craddock 40 – 70 Warms to Miss Marple during the course of the play. Sergeant Mellors 20 – 40 Not many lines to learn but a big presence nevertheless Play set in late 40’s – early 50’s. The effects of the war are still being felt – studying picked up after war service, bartering of local produce, eggs, honey, quince etc. The village of Chipping Cleghorn, not far from the spa town of Medenham Wells, seems idyllic. When an old lady in Scotland dies (which is imminent) Letitia Blacklock will become a very rich woman. Until then it is not worth killing her for her money but should she predecease the old lady in Scotland the immense fortune would then go, under their Uncle’s will, to two people whose names are Emma and Pip. They would be the same age as the 5 young people in the cast. An announcement in the local paper re a murder gathers together all the people who live at Little Paddocks and a couple of curious people from the village. In total two people are murdered, one is shot and the other is poisoned. Pam Cowey 0191 2579068 07970 129970 [email protected] If the audition dates are not suitable for you please let me know. Scripts will be available from Ray Lowry. .