Lizzie at the Hope Mill Theatre
AnxiousTheatregoer- Sep 6, 2023
- 7 min read
Updated: Feb 14
Axe-smashing fun! This has to be one of the best new shows I have seen and I will definitely be returning to Fall River. The all-female cast and band have an electric energy and keep the energy of the show at such a high!
Although the band are not on-stage at the Hope Mill Theatre they will actually be on stage the whole time in the larger tour destinations such as the Southwark Playhouse, similar to how Six and Chicago is staged. This is always an amazing thing to see as the band deserves as much recognition as the cast because the show would not be the same without them.
I will say now that this theatre's recommendations should be followed. This show is not suitable for those under 13 years old as per the warnings and the cast's previous shows should not result in you ignoring this warning.
Before I start the review I want to talk a little bit about the Hope Mill Theatre I had heard about them due to their productions of The Wiz and Rent, however had never been before. However, it has, after this visit, probably become one of my favourite theatres as the atmosphere and intimate nature of the studio/theatre space made it feel so immersive but also personal. The staff were all absolutely lovely and this made the pre-show and interval atmosphere of the bar/restaurant, pleasant to be in. On the note of the restaurant, it opens 90 minutes before the show and serves pizza and fries style food as well as soft, hot and alcoholic drinks. Overall I cannot recommend this theatre enough and I plan to try and see other shows with them in the future.
*POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD*
My Review:
This show is just incredible and before I get into the review of the show in detail I want to start by mentioning the amazing choreography, lighting and set design all of which added so much to the show and fit perfectly. The content of the show is not like Six and I want to preface this comparison by saying that, however, the show is an all-female cast and band and has Six vibes, if Six was mixed with a rocking axe-murderer. This musical does not have a lot of dialogue but I did not feel that I missed any plot points due to this as all the songs and entrances perfectly conveyed all storylines and plot points. This show also has some queer representation throughout, shown through songs and actions. This representation felt well-inserted and fit the plot extremely well so did not feel like an after thought while watching the show. I also want to mention the use of set, designed by Andrew Exeter, as I could not have imagined a better set for this show. The simplicity yet versatility of the staging complimented the show beautifully.
The show starts with the nursery rhyme about Lizzie Borden, Forty Whacks. Personally, I loved this start as it sets the tone for the show when it transitions into the much harder-hitting House of Borden, led beautifully by Mairi Barclay, showing the darkness of this show. House of Borden may be my favourite song in Act 1, as it was so dynamic swapping between calmer and stronger moments whilst introducing all of the characters in a clear and understandable way. Also, the beats at the end which are repeated throughout the show are so addictive to listen to. This Is Not Love is a more understated song that focuses on the character of Lizzie Borden thus heavily highlighting what the song is about, I have gone on to discuss this song in more detail in the content warnings section of my review. Gotta Get Out Of Here offers a stark contrast to This Is Not Love, showing the challenging emotions Lizzie experiences beautifully and is in general an incredible rock moment during the show. If You Knew returns to the softer style of songs featured in this show and beautifully showcases the talent of Maiya Quansah-Breed, whilst clearly establishing the nature of the relationship between two characters in the show. A couple of songs later Shekinah McFarlane delivers a powerhouse rendition of Sweet Little Sister that I feel privileged to have seen live. The show has serious moments due to the story, however, songs such as Why Are All These Heads Off? are riotously fun songs that completely encapsulate the rock theming of this show. Finally, Somebody Will Do Something provides a brilliant high-paced ending to Act 1 and is the perfect moment in the story of the show to have an interval as this intense ending leaves the audience with just the right amount of questions and adrenaline during the interval before Act 2 starts and answers these pending questions.
Act 2 starts the same as Act 1 with Forty Whacks and then The Fall of the House of Borden is once again introduced and led stunningly by Mairi Barclay who has the perfect portrayal of Bridget throughout the show. This similarity allows the two acts to be tied together despite the interval. On that note, the contrast in pitch between The House of Borden and The Fall of the House of Borden despite using the same contrast of calm and powerful moments in both versions, subtly shows the shift towards a darker part of the storyline in Act 2 compared to Act 1. Despite the seriousness of Act 2, Bridget remains humourous in scenes and her small ad-libs throughout the show are quick moments that add to the show and bring the audience to the point of laughter each time. I mentioned the choreography earlier but I want to once again mention the talent of William Whleton and Yandass Ndlovu as the use of choreography in Burn The Old Thing Up and Questions, Questions especially was perfectly utilised and added to what was being said without being distractive or feeling as though it was too much. Also, I adore the soft-breathing moments of Questions, Questions and the generally softer sound of this song as this subtle decision further conveys the emotions of all the characters and contrasts the upcoming songs such as Will You Lie? and Thirteen Days in Taunton. These are more powerful songs as they convey the stress the characters are feeling as the arrest occurs and trial date approaches. Thirteen Days in Taunton is stunning to watch because the song follows the thirteen days of the trial, hence the name, and shows the growth of the characters using costume changes to further demonstrate this point. At this point, I want to mention the beautiful costumes of Lizzie designed by Rachel Tansey. Her attention to detail throughout the show must be commended as the costumes are brilliant at adding to the show. The show ends on Into Your Wildest Dreams, which gorgeously showcases Lauren Drew's powerhouse talent and crystal clear vocals. Lauren's amazing vocals are beautifully showcased throughout the whole show as she ranges through vulnerable songs to rock ballads and whistle notes.
The bows at the end, which I have opted to call the MegaLizzie, are recordable and this is signalled by Lauren saying "Get those phones out.". This is a MegaMix of some songs in the show and is the only recordable part of the performance.
Content Warnings:
I want to start this section by saying that the Hope Mill Theatre was phenomenal at releasing their content warnings as this list I am about to mention was able to be found on their website before I booked. Furthermore, this list was also included in every email I received from the Hope Mill Theatre about the show and as soon as you entered the foyer area of the theatre. Furthermore, the members of staff and cast of the show, especially Lauren Drew, were extremely concerned about the accessibility and effectiveness of the available trigger warnings which was incredible to see. Personally, I found these trigger warnings to be extremely comprehensive and I did not feel blindsided by any scene or plot of this show. The trigger warnings were as follows:
Strong Language
Violence
References to Sexual Abuse
Strobe/Flashing Lights
Blood
Haze
Loud Music & Noises
The notice went on to say that If you have any questions, please speak to a member of the HMT theatre. This may seem insignificant to some people but as someone with anxiety, this made me feel much more comfortable about the possibility of speaking to someone about the content of the show as it enforces the thought that any member of staff would feel comfortable helping me as per this notice suggests.
Personally, I did not feel triggered by this show but after watching the show and speaking with the cast I want to go on to highlight some of the scenes that could be triggering for other audience members without spoiling too much of the show.
The show has moments that are quite visually graphic as they show sexual abuse, especially during the songs This Is Not Love and The Soul of the White Bird. These scenes didn't trigger me but they are definitely uncomfortable and hard to watch. This Is Not Love, especially is explicit about what happened to Lizzie Borden and how her father sexually abused her. This abuse is mentioned throughout and this is why I would not recommend this show for people who are triggered by sexual abuse or younger audiences.
The Soul of the White Bird is less visually graphic but still has its moments. This song is challenging as you watch Lizzie's mind falter as she struggles with what her father did to her.
The show is visually gory, as the murders occur the stage is covered in a projection of dripping blood and a character ends up covered in blood.
The show is loud due to the music and the theatre does shake during heavier moments in songs due to the power of the beat.
The theatre is hard to leave due to its nature so if you feel that you may struggle with anything it would be advisable to sit at the end of a row (low number) as you can only exit the theatre using the exit behind the seating. This is because the main exit is only accessible by passing the stage and would so disrupt the show. There is a possibility that the show may actually make the main exit unusable during the performance but you would have to ask a member of the Front of House Team to clarify should exiting be a concern for you
Will You Lie? shows the use of love as a form of manipulation as one character coerces another character into lying for them.
Thank you for taking the time to read and I hope this review has proved interesting and helpful for you :)
- AnxiousTheatregoer
