Lizzie, Hope Mill Theatre Review (2024)
Reviewed by Aimee for Theatre and Tonic
Disclaimer: Gifted tickets in exchange for an honest review
Set in 1892, Lizzie tells the story of the infamous murders that took place within the Borden family house. On August 4th 1892, Andrew Borden and his wife Abby were both brutally murdered with a hatchet. Despite his daughter Lizzie being arrested, no one was ever charged for the murders, and to this day it remains a mystery as to who actually committed the crime. The facts and circumstances around the case are presented through the perspectives of our four characters Lizzie, Alice, Bridget and Emma. Accompanied by an energetic rock soundtrack, Lizzie is a killer musical that fills you with intrigue.
The book written by Tim Maner is strong and does well to capture the attention of the audience. Whilst it’s not a particularly long show there is a lot to be discussed, and Maner does well to not just brush over topics. The music and lyrics by Steven Cheslik-Demeyer, Alan Stevens Hewitt and Maner are, for the most part, great. The majority of the songs within the show are beautiful, with particular highlights being ‘This Is Not Love’, ‘Shattercane and Velvet Grass’ and ‘If You Knew’. However there are a couple songs which despite the music sounding fantastic, some lyrics fall flat in comparison.
The set design by Andrew Exeter is excellent, with its wooden barn-like structure creating the perfect background for this show to play against. Accompanied by the lighting design (also by Exeter) it becomes a dark and spooky setting, which is exactly what’s needed for this musical. The show incorporates some video design (by Dan Light) which helps the audience to picture who these people actually are, using real depictions of those involved in the case. The costumes by Rachel Tansey are truly beautiful, allowing each character to have their own identity through their clothes. The choreography by William Whelton is sort of minimal and basic, which is good as it allows you to focus on the story and on the lyrics.
I’m not totally convinced by the handheld microphones which they use throughout the show. For me I feel as if sometimes the switching between the two different types of microphones can be a bit clunky, but also considerably loud. The Hope Mill is a very small venue and it’s worth noting that the show is generally quite loud already. When they do use those microphones it gets even louder, and I found that to be quite overwhelming at times and almost headache inducing.
When it comes to performances it’s hard to think of any standouts as all four cast members work together so beautifully to tell this story. Their voices are stunning and they compliment each other well when harmonising. Kayleigh McKnight is a strong Lizzie, portraying that brilliant progression from being an innocent victim to a potential murderer. You can hear the change in emotion and mindset not only through her expressions, but also in her voice. Katie Tonkinson is a heartbreaking Alice, and you can really feel her love towards McKnight’s Lizzie and how that develops throughout. Jennifer Caldwell makes for a hilarious portrayal of Bridget. In a show with very heavy themes it’s important to have those injections of humour and she executes them with such ease. You find yourself watching her every time she’s on stage, waiting for those sometimes subtle gestures that can trigger such laughter. Emilie Louise Israel plays the role of Emma and has such a lovely voice. It’s a shame that she seems to get slightly less solo material than the others, but when Emilie gets a chance to show off her talent she proves her worth. Her Emma is hot headed and slightly stubborn when needed, contrasting to how the other three characters are all presented.
Lizzie is a perfect treat for any true crime fans on the look for a spooky show this autumn.
At Hope Mill Theatre until 17 November 2024.
★★★★
