Lizzie Borden Chronicles: First Impressions
I liked it–a lot. This telling of the story of Lizzie Borden after the murders, fictional to the max, was an entertaining mix of murder, mystery, character, and story that made me, in the end, want more.
Even though I am considered a Borden scholar and have given many lectures on the subject for libraries, historical societies, and churches, I am not a history prude who insists on anything about Lizzie Borden be true to the facts. I am first, and foremost, a theatre professional, and, as such, enjoy a good fictional romp, even when the subject is something I know a great deal about.
I was reminded of Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde while watching the first episode. The unusual editing and jump cuts in the opening sequence, as Lizzie and Emma are making their way into the lawyer’s office while everyone there looks up and sees her and knows her was engrossing and very well done. The jumping back and forth from the bloody murders of Andrew and Abby to the faces of the office employees worked to show us what was on their minds as this woman entered their space. And what would always be on everyone’s mind whenever they would see Lizzie Borden again in her lifetime.
I liked that Lizzie wasn’t upset by all of this, that she had a morbid fascination with her own infamy and this made her a bit heroic. She is no damsel in distress. Even though small in size and stature, Christina Ricci’s Lizzie is cock-sure of herself and enjoys the notoriety.
When Billy Borden popped into the story, I knew we were in for wild ride. It was very ingenious of the creator to meld the Arnold Brown telling in this story. After all, Brown’s The Truth, the Legend, the Final Chapter was a best seller and hokum to boot (and is still classified as non-fiction!). Goes to show you a well told story trumps research every time!
The juxtaposition of modern music, loud modern music, over the storyline was also compelling and a bold move. Lizzie belongs to the ages, it seems—transcending time and place to be with us now as we watch her skip her way down the streets of a very un-Fall River-like Fall River. And she has a good number of one liners too. When the children taunt her with the doggerel (Lizzie Borden Took an Axe) as she and Emma mind their own business, Lizzie turns around, grabbing a tomahawk from a cigar store Indian, and approaches them menacingly. They all run away, except for one child who says, “I’m not scared of you.”
We don’t know what Lizzie’s reaction will be because we don’t yet know her well enough to predict this. She might find the child worthy of her friendship. She may say something nice or turn around and abandon the effort. But not this Lizzie. This Lizzie looks at the child and says, “Well, then, you haven’t been paying attention.” Great line.
This Lizzie is having fun. And I am too.
An article is online in the Fall River Herald News by the great Deb Allard giving some local color to the premiere and there are comments by myself, Lee-Ann Wilber, Rob Mellion of the Chamber of Commerce, and Michael Martins, curator of the Fall River Historical Society. Take a gander.
