Sharon Pollock's Blood Relations tells a story of Lizzie Borden, famously accused of murdering her father and stepmother in 1892. In this and future posts, we'll be looking at the historical record: the murder itself, the trial and its coverage in the media, and the aftermath. Today: the murder itself.
It's not easy being a woman in the 19th century, particularly if your family thinks you're incapable of being a “lady”. Knowing the family fortune is being manipulated away, knowing her beloved birds were exterminated for being “a nuisance”, knowing there was absolutely nobody to trust, Lizzie Borden finally snaps — turning an axe against those who wronged her. Did she commit murder? Or did her parents end themselves?
Season Opener: Blood Relations
Written by Sharon Pollock
Directed by Diana Lobb Auditions: July 9, 10, 11
Performances: September 27, 28, 29; October 4, 5, 6; 11, 12, 13
It's not easy being a woman in the 19th century, particularly if your family thinks you're incapable of being a “lady”. Knowing the family fortune is being manipulated away, knowing her beloved birds were exterminated for being “a nuisance”, knowing there was absolutely nobody to trust, Lizzie Borden finally snaps — turning an axe against those who wronged her. Did she commit murder? Or did her parents end themselves?
