Auditions – Spider’s Web by Agatha Christie
This play by Agatha Christie is sure to entertain, as it is a conscious parody of the detective thriller, a play full of suspense and humour with tension and laughter in equal parts!
The characters are as follows; (using Christie’s own words)
- SIR ROWLAND DELAHAYE around 50, distinguished, with definite charm
- HUGO BIRCH about 60, rather irascible (i.e. easily angered)
- JEREMY WARRENDER elegant young man
- CLARISSA HAILSHAM-BROWN mid-thirties to mid-forties, vivacious
- PIPPA HAILSHAM-BROWN girl aged about 12
(PLEASE NOTE THAT ANYONE TAKING THIS PART WILL NEED TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ADULT OR CARER FOR ALL REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES IF UNDER THE AGE OF 16)
- MILDRED PEAKE forty odd, a big and jolly woman
- ELGIN middle-aged butler
- OLIVER COSTELLO 40 – 50 ish, handsome but with a rather unpleasant face
- HENRY HAILSHAM BROWN good-looking, about 40, rather expressionless
- INSPECTOR LORD ‘wily’
- CONSTABLE JONES (male or female) Welsh, any age
If you are thinking of auditioning, please be aware that all the characters apart from the Welsh Constable Jones will speak with what is known as ‘RP’ or received pronunciation similar to the old BBC style – this is Christie Land, after all! Also, Henry Hailsham Brown, Oliver Costello and Constable Jones have very few lines whereas Clarissa has a considerable amount!
Whether a member of Footlights or not, all are warmly invited to audition.
