Guide Bridge Theatre

ABOUT

"A murder is announced and will take place on Friday, October the thirteenth, at Little Paddocks at 6.30pm. Friends please accept this, the only intimation."

A most peculiar announcement in the Personal Column of the local newspaper meets with mixed reaction from the villagers - some are frightened, others dismiss it as a prank or hoax, but all are intrigued. Then, at the appointed time and place, a violent death does occur, followed by another only two days later... Identities are questioned and secrets laid bare, uncovering multiple motives for a number of suspects, before Miss Marple can reveal 'whodunit'!

CHARACTERS

Note on playing ages: The ages listed below are from the script, but treat them as guidelines, not strict rules. What matters most is that the relationships between the characters are believable.

Philippa, Patrick, Julia, and Edmund should appear close in age, within a year or two.

Mrs. Swettenham should believably be Edmund's mother.

Blacklock and Bunny should be close in age, slightly older than Philippa, Patrick, Julia, and Edmund.

Marple should be older than both Blacklock and Bunny (be ready to wear a grey wig if needed)

CHARACTER DETAILS

Miss Marple – need I say more?! Oh all right then… mid-60s or over. Observant and much cleverer than the image ("insignificant little old lady") she presents to the world. Figures it all out in the end. 6 scenes, 150 lines
Letitia Blacklock – ‘beyond middle-age’ but has ‘looked after’ her figure and is well-groomed. Reasonably well-off but hopes to be even better off soon. Likes the company of young people. 6 scenes, 340 lines
Dora Bunner (Bunny) – school friend of Blacklock who has fallen on hard times. Has not looked after her figure! Grateful to be given a roof over her head. Not terribly intelligent, forgetful, often irritates others with vacuousness and tendency to put her foot in it. 4 scenes, 139 lines
Philippa Hames – mid-20s, widowed during War, struggling a bit financially. Elegant and a bit serious. Lodger at Little Paddocks. 5 scenes, 86 lines
Patrick and Julia Simmons – mid-20s, related to Blacklock and staying with her. Both much smarter (both clothes and wit) than Philippa. (Spoiler alert!) One scene makes clear they are romantically involved with each other but probably won't involve anything too full-on. 6 scenes, 107 and 106 lines respectively
Edmund Swettenham– mid-20s, much more serious-minded than Patrick. Bit nerdy in modern terms. Wants to be a writer. 4 scenes, 33 lines
Mrs Swettenham – any age from mid-40s plus. The kind to worry what the neighbours will think/say and acts accordingly. 4 scenes, 47 lines
Mitzi – cook/housekeeper to Blacklock. Age indeterminate. Mid-European (we’ve decided on Polish) and lapses into this language occasionally. (Phonetic coaching and translation provided if needed.) Excitable and sometimes explosive personality. Prone to paranoia and embellishing stories of her life and predicament. 6 scenes, 84 lines
Craddock – Police inspector. Probably noticeably older than his sergeant but would consider inverting that relationship. Initially dismissive of Marple but gradually she earns his respect and they become partners. 3 scenes, 269 lines
Mellors – Sergeant. Small part. Probably younger than Craddock but could be the opposite. 2 scenes, 9 lines
Scherz – very small but pivotal part. Young Swiss national. 1 scene, 3 lines

Auditions - Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced