The Lizzie Borden Story: A Fresh Take on an Old Mystery
Lizzie Borden's name is famous. She's the woman who may have killed her parents with an axe. But what if this happened today? Would it be a big deal on TV shows like "Dateline"? Would podcasts talk about it all the time?
The Story of Lizzie Borden
The story of Lizzie Borden is a big part of American history. In 1892, she was accused of killing her father and stepmother. She was found not guilty, but people still talk about it. It's like a true crime story that never ends.
The Play: "Lizzie Borden Took an Axe"
The play "Lizzie Borden Took an Axe" is a new way to look at this story. It mixes drama, court stuff, and guesses about what really happened. The play has been around for 15 years. It's like a well-oiled machine. The actors know their parts well.
The Setting
The play is in a simple space. There's not much stuff on stage. But the actors and their clothes show it's from 1892. The family drama feels like a soap opera. It's like watching a bloody family fight.
The Family Drama
The Borden family was not happy. The father, Andrew, was rich but tight with money. He had two daughters, Emma and Lizzie. He was about to change his will. He wanted to give his new wife, Abby, some family property. The daughters didn't like Abby. They called her "Mrs. Borden."
Andrew had also killed some pigeons that Lizzie loved. The night before the murder, his brother-in-law, John Morse, came to visit. Morse said he was out when it happened. The maid, Bridget Sullivan, said she didn't see anything.
The Play's Perspective
The play looks at different ideas about what happened. It talks about family fights and money. The acting is good. The director did a great job. The play is like a quilt. It has many pieces that fit together.
The Characters
In this play, Lizzie seems to steal things. She takes her sister's jewelry. The actress, Jodi Bova-Larham, plays Lizzie well. She's not like the real Lizzie in photos. She's different. She's sometimes cute, sometimes mad, and sometimes mysterious.
Emma, played by Carmen Viviano-Crafts, is the older sister. She's serious and holds her feelings in. The way Lizzie and Emma act together is interesting. The father, Andrew, played by Simon Moody, is like a typical Victorian dad. He's distant and a bit scary.
The rest of the cast is also good. Sean Galuszka plays John Morse. He's a strong presence. Sara Weiler plays Bridget Sullivan. She's frazzled and busy. Other actors add more to the story.
The Details
The play is at the Everson Museum's Hosmer Auditorium. It's about 2 hours and 5 minutes long. It's good for high school students. The violence is not shown. There are photos of the crime scene. The play runs through November 22.
