By ADRIANA BECERRA
Student Reporter
The theatre department at Northwestern will be open “Blood Relations” at 7 pm. Oct. 2.
The play is a retelling of Lizzie Borden and her life. Borden’s father and stepmother were brutally killed with an axe. She was tried and acquitted during a trial in Fall River, Mass., in the late 1800s. To this day, people still question whether Borden was guilty; people on both sides feel strongly about the case.
Canadian playwright, actor, and director Sharon Pollock wrote the play. “Blood Relations” earned her several awards, including the Canadian Governor General’s Award. The play was first produced in 1980 at Theatre Three in Edmonton, Canada, has been performed all over the world and is still as well-received today as it was 34 years ago.
Michelle Penner will direct Northwestern’s production. She describes the play as a dark psychological thriller. The department has been preparing for the play since school started. Auditions were held the first week of school and rehearsals began shortly after.
This is the second play Penner will direct at Northwestern. Her first play was part of the ten-minute series the department put on. The play was called “Oklahoma in Ten Minutes.:”
The two leads in the play Hannah Dirks and Jordan Lyles. Dirks is a senior from Woodward, Okla., and Lyles is a senior from Sapulpa, Okla.
Penner said, “The cast is phenomenal, each bringing their own gifts onto the stage. Hannah and Jordan playing opposite each other is something everyone should see and they will never forget. The tension between Lizzie and Mrs. Borden (Ally Shea) is palpable and unnerving. This show is amazing, and no one should miss it.”
The rest of the cast is not new to scene. There is one freshman that is new to the university but not new to acting. Penner said, “She has really stepped up and has done an excellent job for being the youngest. Everyone has really stepped up and have put a lot of hard work into this play. I am so proud of them. They have gone above and beyond and done so much research and really worked on knowing their characters. I think that it is going to be a really good, exciting show.”
Performances of “Blood Relations” will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 and 3 and 2 p.m. October 4.