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DOWAGIAC — The Beckwith Theatre Company will hold auditions next month for its upcoming production of “Murdered to Death” by Peter Gordon.

Directed by Larry Nielsen, auditions will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 19; 4 p.m. Sunday, July 20; 7 p.m. Monday, July 21 at the Beckwith Theatre, 100 New York Ave, Dowagiac. Production dates are Sept. 26–28 and Oct. 3–5. Performance times are 7:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m. Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.

Play description:

“Murdered to Death” is a hilarious spoof of the best of Agatha Christie traditions. Set in a country manor house, an eclectic group of characters tries to determine who murdered the owner of the house. This is the first of Gordon’s three Agatan Christie spoofs. All have been hits.

All the Christie characters are here, and they’re all caught up in the side-splitting antics which follow the mysterious death of the owner of a country manor house. It soon becomes clear that the murderer is not yet finished, begging the question will the murderer he caught before everyone else has met their doom or will the audience die laughing first?

Roles to be auditioned include: The characters in Murdered to Death are all deliberately based upon “whodumit” stereotypes. Ages are for guidance only and can be varied, provided that the overall balance is maintained.

Mildred, the moderately wealthy owner of the Bagshot House. Written to be in her late fifties. Dorothy, the rather plain niece who would inherit Bagshot House. Dorthy is also the companion and housekeeper to Mildred. Written to be in her late twenties

Bunting, the pedantic Butler, somewhat creepy as if lost in his own world. Appears at times like a ghost. Written to be in his sixties.

Colonel Charles Craddock has the stiffest of stiff upper lips and posture. A confidant and blustery Colonel in tweed. A philanderer in the past and present. Written to be in his sixties.

Margaret Craddock, the long suffering but acerbic wife of the Colonel who knows what she knows. Written to be slightly younger than her husband.

Elizabeth Hartley-Trumpington, the stunningly attractive, well-dressed, and very high-society socialite. Written to be in her mid-twenties

Pierre Marceau, a shady French art dealer, caught recently defrauding Mildred. Has an exaggerated French accent. Perhaps mustachioed as Hercule Poirot. Written to be in his carly thirties.

Joan Maple, (The parody of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple) Gossipy older woman with a knack for solving crimes. Underestimated by others who think Miss Maple is too confused to solve crimes. A nosy busybody of a neighbor, sleuth wannabe who murder follows. Maple is quirky and naive yet astute. Written to be in her sixties.

Constable Thompkins, a bright, village policeman or policewoman, precise, calm, and logical demeanor in comedic contrast to Pratt. Written without age.

Inspector Pratt, over-the-top itt demeanor and incompetent in ability but lacking any self-awareness and humility. Inept, posing, and clumsy Inspector. The type of person once met is never forgotten. He’s armed and a menace to all. More Peter Sellers as Inspector Clouseau while trying to be Hercule Poirot. Written without age.