Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

Famous detective Hercule Poirot is called back from Istanbul to London on urgent business. He intends to book a first-class compartment on the Orient Express, run by his former friend and colleague, Monsieur Bouc. The train is surprisingly full, but Bouc manages to secure Poirot a spot in the first-class cabin. While aboard the Orient Express, Poirot meets a host of peculiar characters: an aging Russian princess, her Swedish companion, a Hungarian countess, a Minnesota housewife, a Scottish colonel, an English governess, a French conductor, a disagreeable American businessman, and his anxious secretary. While aboard the train, the angry businessman, Samuel Ratchett, corners Poirot and demands Poirot to investigate a series of ominous letters that have been sent to Ratchett, threatening his life.

As a snowdrift halts the Orient Express in its tracks, Ratchett is found stabbed multiple times in his locked train compartment. Poirot is tasked by Monsieur Bouc to solve the murder, as the killer could still be in their midst. As Poirot investigates, conflicting clues and convoluted alibis lead him to dead ends. Over the course of 48 hours, will Poirot be able to solve the case of the Murder on the Orient Express?

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie
Category
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
2017
Genres
Drama
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
The Orient Express, travelling from Istanbul to Western Europe, 1934
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
None
Dancing
None
Licensor
Samuel French
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen, Young Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Hercule Poirot

Lead

Male

Non-singer

Monsieur Constantine Bouc

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Mary Debenham

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Hector MacQueen

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Michael the Conductor

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Princess Natalya Dragomiroff

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Greta Ohlsson

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Countess Elena Andrenyi

Supporting

Female

Non-singer

Mrs. Helen Hubbard

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Soprano

Samuel Ratchett/Bruno Cassetti

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Colonel James Arbuthnot

Supporting

Male

Non-singer

Head Waiter

Featured

Male

Non-singer

Songs

Sorry, we currently do not have content for this section.

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Guide Written By:

Emma Houlahan

Emma Houlahan

Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.