And Then They Were None by Agatha Christie
Directed by MaryEllen Vogt
Assistant Director: Cindy Griswold
Performance Dates: June 19 through June 22 (Thursday through Sunday)
Ten Strangers are summoned to a remote island. All that the guests have in common is a wicked past they're unwilling to reveal and a secret that will seal their fate, for each has been marked for murder. As the weather turns and the group is cut off from the mainland, one by one they disappear in accordance with a sinister rhyme. A perfect combination of thriller and detective story, this much-copied plot is considered to be Christie's greatest technical achievement.
No "stars" - for this is an ensemble show, with interesting and well-developed characters. There's irony, humor, surprises, and so much more!
Time: 1940s ... or it could be whenever
Set: Living room on Soldier Island off the coast of England
Cast: 11 characters
Questions? Please ask MaryEllen (530.414.4991; mevogt1@outlook.com
And Then There Were None
Character Descriptions
Judge Laura Wargrave (written as Sir Lawrence Wargrave) All scenes, 117 lines
A recently retired judge. Wargrave is a highly intelligent woman with a commanding personality. As the characters begin to realize that a murderer is hunting them, Wargrave’s experience and air of authority make her a natural leader for the group. She lays out evidence, organizes searches, and ensures that weapons are locked away safely. She has a strong sense of justice combined with a sadistic undertone.
Vera Claythorne: All scenes, 218 lines
A former governess who comes to Soldier Island purportedly to serve as a secretary to Mrs. Owen. Vera wants to escape a past in which she killed a small boy in her care, Cyril Hamilton, so that the man she loved would inherit Cyril’s estate. Although the coroner cleared her of blame, Vera’s lover abandoned her. Vera is intelligent and capable, but she also suffers from attacks of hysteria, feels guilty about her crime, and reacts nervously to the uncanny events on the island. The “Ten Soldier Boys” poem has a powerful effect on her.
Philip Lombard: All scenes, 236 lines
A mysterious, confident, and resourceful man who seems to have been a mercenary soldier in Africa. Lombard is far bolder and more cunning than most of the other characters, traits that allow him to survive…until he doesn’t. His weakness is his chivalrous attitude toward women, particularly Vera, with whom he has several private conversations. He cannot think of her as a potential killer, and he underestimates her resourcefulness.
Dr. Edward George Armstrong (or Dr. Edwina G. Armstrong): Four scenes, 106 lines
A gullible, slightly timid doctor. Armstrong often draws the suspicion of the other guests because of his/her medical knowledge. S/he is a recovering alcoholic who once accidentally killed a patient by operating on her while drunk. Armstrong, while professionally successful, has a weak personality, making him/her the perfect tool for the murderer. S/he has spent his/her whole life pursuing respectability and public success and is unable to see beneath people’s exteriors.
William Henry Blore: All scenes, 106 lines
A former police inspector. Blore is a man whose experience often inspires others to look to him for advice. As a policeman, he was corrupt and framed a man named Landor at the behest of a criminal gang. On the island, he acts boldly and frequently takes initiative but he also makes frequent blunders. He constantly suspects the wrong person, and his boldness often verges on foolhardiness.
Emily Brent: Three scenes, 75 lines
A ruthlessly religious woman who reads her Bible every day. The recording accuses Emily Brent of killing Beatrice Taylor, a servant whom she fired upon learning that Beatrice was pregnant out of wedlock. Beatrice subsequently killed herself. Unlike the other characters, Emily Brent feels convinced of her own righteousness and does not express the slightest remorse for her actions.
General John Gordon McKenzie: Two scenes, 34 lines
General McKenzie is accused of sending a lieutenant, Arthur Richmond, to his death during the Great War because Richmond was his wife’s lover. Once the first murders take place, McKenzie, already guilt-ridden about his crime, becomes resigned to his death.
Thomas Rogers: Two scenes, 73 lines
The dignified butler, Rogers continues to be a proper servant even after his wife is found dead and the bodies begin piling up. The recording accuses Rogers and his wife of letting their former employer die because they stood to inherit money from her.
Ethel Rogers (cook/maid): One scene, 26 lines
Rogers’s wife, Ethel is a frail woman, and the death of Tony Marston makes her faint. Wargrave believes her husband dominates her and that he masterminded their crime.
Anthony Marston: One scene; 26 lines:
A rich, egotistical man, Tony Marston likes to drive recklessly and seems to lack a conscience. He killed two small children in a car accident caused by his speeding but shows no remorse.
Fred Narracott (or Freida Narracott): One scene, 9 lines
Hired by the Owens to ferry guests to the island, and to bring and replenish fresh foods while the guests are at the house.
Audition Record & Conflict Calendar in the attached PDF
Audition Dates: April 7 & 8 from 5;30 -8:30p at the Fine Arts Room at Orchard Creek. Possible callbacks on April 9 (location TBD)
Click the link below ⬇️ to download the Sides that will be used for the Auditions