The Ghost Train (Auditions)

Thanks to the mindless actions of Teddy Deakin, a group of mismatched rail passengers find themselves stranded in a dark and isolated station, having missed the last connection of the night.
Tales of superstition prevail as the local station master – unable to persuade them to leave – reveals that very night, twenty years ago, a train crashed leaving a number of passengers dead. Legend has it, that the station is still haunted as the train relives its final moments as it roars through the station to its demise.
The passengers begin to panic as the body of the station master is found on the platform, and a mysterious young lady arrives, foretelling the oncoming of the Ghost Train…

Station Master at Fal Vale. Slightly curmudgeonly. Needs a convincing Cornish accent.

Male:  Age :30s thru 50s

To be played straight. Bossy, domineering over all around him, including his wife. Feels superior so automatically takes charge. Successful businessman so would be good to have a nice clipped ‘BBC English’ accent. Doesn’t necessarily endear himself to the audience.

Female Age: Similar to Richard  (30s thru 50s)– must be convincing as a married couple.

In an acerbic marriage with Richard which appears to be on the rocks. Fiercely independent and refuses to be dominated by Richard. Similar clipped accent would be ideal.

Male – Age: Ideally late 20s – early 30s

Newly married to Peggy – setting out in business and aspires to be successful so is slightly in awe of Richard. Well spoken, although not necessarily as clipped as Richard/Elsie – no dropped ‘T’s or ‘H’s but could easily be more Estuary English or northern for that matter.

Female – Age: Anything appropriate to be Charles’ newly wedded wife (Late 20s – Early 30s). Must be convincing as a couple.

Slightly lacking in confidence and relies heavily upon Charles who she is fully devoted to and supporting of. Accent to match that of Charles ideally as they would have come from a similar background.

Female – Age: described in the script as a spinster so presumed to be elderly but not necessarily so – minimum mid-40s though to be convincing.

Prim and proper, teetotal churchgoer. Accent would preferably be ‘posh’ (think Miss Marple) but not absolutely necessary, and definitely not guttural. Spends almost the entire second act on her back motionless (drunk) on a table so the actor needs to have that physical capability. We will pad the table top somehow to make it slightly more comfortable but a big ask nevertheless.

Male – Age: 30s thru’ 50s (often referred to as ‘young man’ but we can drop that to suit the actor if necessary).

Key to the whole play and the actor will have a demanding job as this role effectively requires them to portray two entirely different personas. For the main part he is a fool, taking nothing seriously and trying to add humour all the time to what is otherwise a dead-loss situation of his making. His jollity alienates him from the other characters, but he must keep it up at all times. Comic timing will be key. For the final scenes he needs to switch to his true character that being a Police Inspector and in this role must suddenly demand respect from the other characters and convince the audience of his genuine reason for being there. Again, well spoken throughout but each persona requires an entirely different voice to help accentuate the switch. A demanding role, but should be good fun!

Female – Age: 30s thru 50s

Another role with two personas. For the main part she is an ‘airy-fairy’, nervous, unconfident, spiritualist type of girl (single) with a fascination for the Ghost Train and all it represents, but this is all a sham. Toward the end her true character is revealed, that of a no-nonsense, gun-toting Chicago mobster (with accent to match!)

Male – Age: 30s thru 60s – Julia Price’s elder brother so the two must be compatible

A relatively small part but needs to be played straight. Confident and deadly serious throughout, and again, well spoken.

Male – Age: 30s thru 60s

Pretty much the same description as given to Herbert Price. i.e A relatively small part but needs to be played straight. Confident and deadly serious throughout, and again, well spoken.

Male – Age: 20s+

Very small part with just a handful of spoken lines. A Police Constable – what more can I say?