On "A Memory of Lizzie" - The Writers Cut

As appeared in The Triton Review

This a review I did that was featured in The Triton Review, concerning an upcoming local play about the life of Lizzie Borden. I had to butcher the article some and rework it so that it could fit in the space alloted to me, but I have included what was cut out in parentheses, just because Halloween is coming up and I figured a little extra macabre information about Borden couldn't hurt anyone.

The Driftwood Players Can Really Hack It

Just in time for Halloween, The Driftwood Players resurrect the story of Lizzie Borden who allegedly killed her father and step-mother with a hatchet on August 4, 1892 in Fall River, Mass. By the murders of Andrew Jackson Borden and Abby Durfee Borden, a place was forever secured within the annals of American justice and criminology. The play is not just based around the slayings themselves, but also includes scenes from Lizzie's childhood and her criminal trial that began on June 5, 1893. "A Memory of Lizzie," is based on the play by David Foxton and first appeared in his book "Sepia and Song," published by Nelson Thornes in Nov. 2000. As the narrative opens, we are introduced to Lizzie as a child on a late 19th century school yard. The interaction between her and her classmates, who continually bully and torment her, cleverly foreshadow her future crimes and provide us a basis upon which we gain insight into Borden's character. Furthermore, the device offers the opportunity for several flash-forward sequences that reveal scenes from Lizzie's subsequent trial after the murders. The murder itself is not shown in the play, but the production does take artistic license concerning Lizzie's childhood and continually prefigures what would eventually come to pass. (The murder, being one of the most famous in all American history, still continues to inspire intrigue and speculation among scientists, historians and writers alike. One hundred sixteen years ago, the Borden family was quite well known, though not particularly liked among some of the social circles in Victorian era New England. According to Lizzie's testimony at her trial, she came upon the butchered remains of her father in the parlor at around 11:15 a.m. He lay upon the couch, his face severely mangled from the blade of a hatchet. Her step-mother was later discovered in an upstairs bedroom, apparently killed first, lying dead on the floor face down beside the bed. Likewise, someone had taken a hatchet and crushed the back of her skull.)(Contrary to the popular 19th century nursery rhyme, it was 11 strikes with the hatchet that killed the father and 18 or 19 that killed the step-mother, which emphasizes how savage the murder really was. The gruesome nature of the crime enthralled the nation and it was more than enough to procure a place on the front page of The New York Times. Lizzie was tried for the brutal slayings in Massachusetts Superior Court. The court proceedings lasted two weeks and despite the efforts of the prosecution, Lizzie was eventually acquitted of all charges. The jury found that the prosecution's case was just not convincing enough to negate any reasonable doubt and on June 19, 1893, she was found not guilty after only about an hour's worth of deliberation.)The production of "A Memory of Lizzie" features historically accurate portrayals of what is known about the murder and takes actual dialog straight out of the courtroom transcripts. This, combined with the fictional account of Lizzie's adolescence, provides a unique perspective into the life and persona of this infamous character. The sharp contrast between eras is accentuated by abrupt lighting changes, which are designed to make the scenes as eerie as possible. The lighting mainly consists of blue and purple hues, which when played upon the retro costumes helps give, what director William Bowen calls, "a wonderful black and white kind of feel."The play itself is written and performed under the assumption that Lizzie was indeed guilty of the slaying of her father and step-mother. This follows much of the public's perception, both at that time and currently as to who was truly responsible for the murders. (Many feel that she planned and executed the crime for one of many proposed reasons. Although, the prosecution cited Lizzie's desire to acquire the allotted money left to her in her father's will as the motive, nowadays, with the great advances in psychology, criminology and forensic science, some of the possible motives that have been proposed range from retaliation due to a thwarted love affair to an epileptic episode where she committed the crimes, yet was completely oblivious of her actions.) The murderous personage is conveyed wonderfully through actress Wendy Enden, who plays Lizzie and the chemistry between her and the other actors, not only succeeds in giving it a dark air about it, but also makes the show rather amusing at times.Though the play's subject matter is certainly not for the faint of heart, how it is executed and the perspective the show offers is a delightfully morbid Halloween treat. Certainly, there have been numerous plays, books and investigative novels that have been based around the life and alleged crimes of Lizzie Borden, but the uniqueness of the settings and characters in "A Memory of Lizzie" makes it truly one of the best depictions of Borden and the crime that I have seen, especially considering that the play lasts only a half-hour. We can be sure the sadistic murder and its possible suspects will continue to inspire authors and investigators alike for many years to come, as we can be sure that the Driftwood Players will likewise continue to produce high quality actors and plays.While the Driftwood Players may not have as high of a budget as other playhouses, this in fact works to their advantage. The lack of elegant props, backgrounds and effects demands a high level of creativity on the part of the directors and actors which makes their plays more delightful and amusing. This produces an almost improv-like atmosphere that is rarely seen, yet readily perceivable in all their productions. You get the impression that no two performances will ever be same and this truly makes The Driftwood Players unparalleled. This year, the Driftwood Players, in addition to celebrating their 50th anniversary, are nominees for best theatre group in KING 5's Best of Western Washington and it is a title that they truly deserve. The show is terrific and lives up to director Bowden's sentiment that the play is "a lot of fun."