Theater Review: 'Lizzie' at TheaterWorks Hartford

Review by Nancy Sasso Janis

All photos by Mike Marques

TheaterWorks Hartford is presenting the first show of the 2023-2024 season, “Lizzie a Rock Concert in 40 Whacks.” This high energy contemporary musical examines the infamous story behind the nursery rhyme “Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother forty whacks…”

The book by Tim Maner comes alive with the music by Steven Cheslik-Demeyer and Alan Stevens-Hewitt, with lyrics by Cheslik-Demery and Maner. There is some additional music by Maner and Hewitt, and the latter did the orchestrations. The show is based on an original concept by Cheslik-Demeyer and Maner.

Lainie Sakakura, a New York City-based freelance director and choreographer, directs this production with a strong vision and attention to blocking the scenes to yield effective stage images. She feels that the musical speaks deeply to her “in its raw, unapologetic, raging rock feminist voice. It is a voice for the marginalized, the furious, oppressed and ignored.”

She writes that “Lizzie delves into the mysterious mind of Lizzie Borden and speculates about her possible motivations: loss of inheritance, sexual oppression, abuse…madness.” The script and musical score are based on historical records and touch upon all of these, as it explores the days leading up to the most famous double murder and the ensuing trial.

Brian Prather designed the set that morphs into a concert stage for the second act. The costumes designed by Saawan Tiwari start out as sedate and historically accurate 1800s female garb, but the second act is performed in contemporary punk rock-inspired outfits. The characters are enhanced by the inspired, often grungy hair and make-up design by Ashley Rae Callahan.

The all-female Equity cast members, all making their TheaterWorks’ debut, have outstanding singing voices and strong stage presence.

Sydney Shepherd does amazing work in bringing the title character to life. I could not keep my eyes off her portrayal of this haunted historical character. Shepherd appeared on Broadway in “First Date” and is 1/3 of the critically acclaimed indie folk-pop band “Bandits on The Run.” Sydney is currently working with collaborators Adrian Enscoe, Regina Strayhorn, Christopher Sears, and Peter Hedges on a new stage musical.

Nora Schell (they/them) strongly portrays the servant in “The House of Borden,” Bridget Sullivan. Schell made their Broadway debut in “Jagged Little Pill.” Kim Onah, a Harvard graduate who is a New York city-based actor, singer and writer that appeared in “& Juliet” on Broadway, does very well as the Borden’s neighbor Alice Russell and sings wonderfully.

Courtney Bassett (who appeared in “The Great Comet” on Broadway) portrays Lizzie’s older sister Emma Borden. Next for Bassett is the world premiere of new musical “Teeth,” at Playwrights Horizons in New York.

Johanna Morrison was the dialect coach for Bridget. The projections designed by Camilla Tassi (“Fun Home” at TheaterWorks) appear on the sides of the stage and contain newspaper clippings about the court case and sketches of the trial. Lighting design by Rob Denton sets many moods. Sound design by Megan Culley is never ear splitting, although the singers supplement their body microphones with handheld microphones at times.

The excellent band sits behind a wall of doors for the first act and then, after the killings, is revealed for the entire second act of the concert. They work together to bring this often searing score to life. Music director Erika A. Gamez conducts and plays keyboard 1. The talented musician Billy Bivona plays guitar 1. Jeff Carlson covers guitar 2 and keyboard 2, with Christie Echols on bass, Esther Benjamin on cello and Molly Plaisted on drums.

“Lizzie” is a rock concert retelling of a mind-bending American myth. This is an edgy and fierce musical that I thoroughly enjoyed. It reminded me of the Broadway musical “SIX” in all the best ways. It is presented with an intermission and runs about 95 minutes.

TheaterWorks, located at 233 Pearl Street in Hartford, has extended the run of “Lizzie” until Oct. 29.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.