January Musings
The temps are falling and the long quiet season has arrived. After the 
excitement of the release of Parallel Lives in November, the Victorian house tour in December and virtually a year’s worth of Lizzie suspense, we’re all looking for January adventures. Many of us are reading the massive volume, Parallel Lives. Down on Second Street, the B&B is only open weekends for overnighters although the day tours continue through the week. The B&B web site has had an overhaul. Re-runs of last year’s paranormal sessions at #92 are in full tilt on television, no update on the Chloe Sevigny HBO mini-series has been released yet, and the historical society is closed for the winter.
“Axed”, two one-act plays has debuted and will be running this month http://www.pressherald.com/life/go/on-the-case_2012-01-05.htm No new ideas here, but a fresh treatment. January is a great time for catching up on our Lizzie reading and some new entries in the historical crime arena. W&W recommends Murder and Mayhem in Essex County by Robert Wilhelm. Murder and mischief was alive and well in Massachusetts long before Miss Lizzie! http://www.murder-in-essex.com/ If the name sounds familiar, Mr. Wilhelm also publishes the popular vintage crime blog, Murder by Gaslight and The National Nightstick, all great reading for the amateur armchair sleuth on a cold winter’s night. http://murderbygasslight.blogspot.com/ and http://www.snakeoilgraphics.com/NightStick/ Stay tuned for reviews. Here’s wishing you a cozy January by the fire and a good wallow in crimes of the Past.
3 Comments
Mimi Foxmorton
I quite enjoyed it. The first ever stage production concerning Lizzie I have ever seen. I was quite excited to be *in* the house on *that* day! (Silly, I know…but still!) 😉
I thought the play was decently written and researched and the juxtaposition of stage action and voice over quite clever.
Perhaps a wee smidgen too much emphasis on the possible sexual abuse between Andrew and Lizzie which seemed to color the view of the audience.
Alas, my troubles came from the casting & costuming of this particular show. The lovely, intimate venue called for attention to detail. I’m a big stickler for period costuming. Lizzie was whippet thin, teenage pouty, flouncy and jittery. My suspension of disbelief took a few jolts througout.
I must say though that their Bridget (who I though was Lizzie when I first saw her) was fabulous! In fact, I would love to see her play Lizzie in a future production.
That said, I did have a wonderful evening and know that when one has a decidely fixed image in one’s head that comparison is bound to be strict.
🙂
Mimi Foxmorton
Hmm….jealous. Wish I were in Portland!
Just saw Garret Heater’s ‘Lizzie Borden Took An Axe’ here in Aurora, NY las month.
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We enjoyed Garret Heater’s production in Fall River this past August. Do give us your review of the play!