All About Arbuthnot

Here is some information I’ve researched and discovered about Arbuthnot in this process. He is a living creature and much of my preparation was geared towards finding that, so many of these items were written and rewritten throughout. Additionally, much of what I came down to was more questions that could be decided in the moment, rather than clear-cut facts. Most importantly, I was able to stop preparation once it became of no greater use to me (as advised by The Actor and the Target). This page excludes the research I did in my early explorations, such as my pipe and the physicality of the 1930s.

I’d also like to note that this feels odd to me. Showcasing my research is one thing, but describing who Arbuthnot is feels unnatural. Who am I? How could I possibly put that into words? I’m a son, a student, a friend, and I’m charming, but none of that begins to describe the active living being of ‘Mason’. So, below is a feeble attempt at describing Arbuthnot. I am quite happy that this feels short because it means I created a living being onstage that reflects some of myself.

The Badge

A fun component of my research was the badge I wore. The image below is what I wore onstage. It has a metal bar with the word “Cyprus” and the medal has Elizabeth II on it. This is not period-accurate, but it’s meant to resemble the real medal shown below it. I wanted to understand what getting the medal meant both symbolically and literally.

For one, the only possible way I could have received this medal with a bar on it is if I served in the Afghanistan Northwestern Frontier in 1919, a battle that lasted a few weeks. This, of course, has implications for Arbuthnot’s timeline.

Facts in performance

Much of what I learned about James was found as I explored the text in performance. These ideas could change from rehearsal to rehearsal, so here’s what seemed to stick by the final performance:

Arbuthnot grew up in a small town. He loved watching the trains go by in the valley below. Therefore:

1. He loves to travel and wants to see the world. He and Mary didn’t simply arrive in Istanbul to take a train ride home. This was a vacation! It, of course, was plagued by the anxiety of what was to come. This affected Mary more, though Arbuthnot still found plenty of moments to show her the world (and see it for himself too).
2. Seeing the wide world makes him feel like a kid.

Relationship to Mary

1. They met in 1927 when Daisy was old enough to have a Governess. She was 20-23, I was ~29, and a Captain. (This is the logical deduction from the dates and times in the play. Additionally, it takes ~22 years to become a Colonel, 5-10 of which are done as a Captain).
2. I visited the family somewhat often, given they are on a different continent. I had a crush on Mary then and hoped I’d see her each time I went, which is why we fell so hard and heavy when we reconnected years later.
3. She is NOT a replacement for my previous wife, nor do the timelines of my love for them overlap. My wife cheated on me with someone close to me, so those feelings burned away at that moment. I considered whether I had kids, and that’s why losing my case in court is so important, but in the end, I refuted that notion. The notion of losing the home I built and the life I created because of that woman is enough.
4. My immediate reaction tends to be intimidation and violence. Some of this comes from the military.

His mother

1. I was drafted in WW1 when I turned 18 in 1916. It hurt my mother to see me go, but I did my best to take care of her by sending her money while I was away. I continued with the military going forward, but I always made time for her. Special note: My favorite food is Indian because it’s the food I ate whilst in training. It’s what kept me going in some of the hardest moments of the war.
2. She was a single mother

Dreams

1. Mary. What I stand to lose if this murder plot is revealed is I can’t be with her. More than that, I’m the one who kept reassuring her it’d be okay. If this falls through, I failed as a protectorate and, likely, actively hurt her.
2. Marrying Mary has been on my to-do list since 1927. That’s my dream.

How strong is he?

1. Canonically the strongest character.

Miscellaneous

1. When I was young, I didn’t have money. Only after years of being in the military and delving into some business have I become comfortable in terms of money. As a Colonel, I can provide Mary with a stable life and she won’t need to work.
2. My relationship with family is what I’m risking to be part of this murder plot
3. It is January in Yugoslavia. It’s COLD and I never got a coat for the show, so I’m really cold.
4. Information is interesting here. News of the case would’ve been on the radio, not on TV. For example, many people know of Poirot but may not recognize him.
5. A first-class ticket for the Orient Express is $800 in today’s money
6. Justice. Arbuthnot has a strong sense of justice, both in the play and the book. Arbuthnot ensures that 12 people are involved in the killing in the book to compose a Jury.

First-ever character playlist

And finally, everyone makes character playlists. So, I finally took a swing at one!