21 October 2023 I 14:30 I Trinity Arts Centre, Gainsborough
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lizzie, a Hope Mill Theatre production, is one of the lesser known musicals currently touring the UK, with a London stint to follow. I have followed the show for a few years, being a fan of the soundtrack, though I never expected to see it in the flesh so soon! Naturally, I had my preconceptions, though this killer revival is a rocker's paradise, holding a disturbing horror to leave you tense throughout! Gainsborough's Trinity Arts Centre holds a lower capacity in the auditorium of 200 seats, amplifying the intensity that could otherwise be lost in larger spaces. There's a dangerous killer on the loose, and you have no option but to be as close as possible!
For those unfamiliar with this musical, Lizzie delves into a dramatized life of Lizzie Borden, a young American woman assumed of the axe murders of her father and stepmother. The story is embroiled with scandal and rage, a feast for the imagination, and the perfect pre-Halloween treat!
The Borden household is the case that shocked the world, with Act 1 concluding in a nail-biting performance of Somebody Will Do Something, flipping the conventions of tragedy by placing the murders centrally in the plot. I had to remind myself to breathe as it turns unbelievably engrossing! Andrew Exeter's lighting design couldn't be better, complimenting the tone and pace of action to magnify the story's aggression. And alongside Dan Light's video design, Exeter's set is a contained world, allowing both love and conflict to fester. Actors can break it's boundaries, going beyond the walls as a reminder that eyes and ears are everywhere, at all times.
Anger isn't senseless in Lizzie, it builds. Manifesting this emotionally, Lauren Drew IS Lizzie Borden!! I'd previously seen Drew in the tour of SIX, and she never once misses with endlessly powerhouse vocals, just next to none to delivering a menace of the role. I am in awe of absolutely every performance she curates, and I can really see her going down as a true legend of musical theatre! From a drama student's perspective, I hugely admire every one of the ladies performing in this show. Starring as Emma Borden, Shekinah McFarlane is captivating and gives audiences honesty. Ditto seeing McFarlane perform in SIX, she is a marvel at acting through song, with every feeling so raw in a grounded and punchy tone. Sweet Little Sister just takes the spot of my favourite moment from the show, where this pair just have endless vigour, giving audiences a terrific showcase of talent!
Amongst a world of rebellion, Maiya Quansah-Breed's Alice is a breath of fresh air, sparking a rumoured romance between herself and Lizzie. I enjoy the emotional depth she conveys through Alice, and Quansah-Breed has such a delicate softness with everything she does, in a way you empathise with her innocence in contrast to the titular character. And this is the provoking thing about the musical. Despite Lizzie's presumed horrendous crime, you never quite despise her. The violence is intimidating indeed, though you are granted a view away from her rage, the vulnerability, the abuse, the longing for joy. In no way is her accused crime forgivable, though she is terrifyingly likeable as a protagonist.
On as first cover Bridget this evening, Ayesha Patel is genuinely chilling! As the Borden's maid, Patel enacts a Narrator's role in a sense, heading through the tale with an outside eye. I have to commend Patel, particularly for her work on facial expression, really leaning into the ability to unsettle. And she is just a true joy to watch as she performs! I cherish this cast of 4 powerful, unyielding women, as the musical is easily distributed to give a wide range of perspective.
William Whelton's choreography (and direction) is wonderfully done in such a tight space, where nothing is overcomplicated, but perfectly mirrors the punky rock score, with original orchestrations by Alan Stevens Hewitt. With musical direction from Honor Halford-Macleod, the live band, spotted through the boards, and later opened up, sound divinely wicked! Gloriously bringing a soundtrack I have been mesmerised by, honestly better than I could have ever hoped for. I love the additions of sound (Adam Fisher) before the show start / during the interval, a spooky atmosphere that sets the tone wonderfully.
The trial sequence of Act 2, particularly during Questions Questions, spews creativity, using incredibly quick pacing and spurts of lighting in a frenzied orchestrated defence for Lizzie. It's just one of those theatrical moments where you feel frozen in amazement, because of how well it all flows and becomes a pivot of the plot. It fascinated me so much that I spent the rest of my evening researching the Borden case, and even reading testimonies from the trial!!
Blood is everywhere, and while Lizzie may not make you jump, it is sure to disturb audiences while ensuring a murderously good time. This show doesn't fully get the attention it deserves, and I truly hope this revival will ignite a new generation of fans, thanks to the Hope Mill Theatre's new production. As Lizzie rounds off the tour at London's Southwark Playhouse, it'd be criminal to miss this bloody good show!
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