New on Forum/Lizzie Show

Caitlin · Post by **Caitlin** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:03 pm

Hello all! I know you don't know me yet, but for about a week now, I have been following posts on this forum. My name is Caitlin, and I am 18. Upon the completion of my high school career this June, I had never before encountered Lizzie Borden. I do, however, intern for a professional theater company where I live, in Cape May, New Jersey. I was excited to learn that we would be producing a one woman show on Lizzie Borden. Well, ever since then I have found myself spending every waking moment researching Lizzie....often times not letting myself sleep until 3 or 4 in the morning. The show opened Wednesday and was amazing! I look forward to more discussions on this forum!!

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:06 pm

Caitlin, welcome. Are you actually playing Lizzie Borden?

I am a former East Coaster (Philly) now residing in sunny Cleveland, OH, and I read the Cape May was hosting a Lizzie play the last time I was in Philly/South Jersey, which was a few weeks ago.

Do you have any specific questions you want to ask the people on this forum about the Lizzie Borden case/characters/etc.? We may be able to clarify things for you, since you are relatively new to Lizzie Lore.

twinsrwe · Post by **twinsrwe** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:22 pm

Hi, Caitlin. I hope you enjoy being a member of this forum - you won't find a better forum for getting the facts on Lizzie Borden.

doug65oh · Post by **doug65oh** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:36 pm

Welcome to our little corner of the zoo, Caitlin.

Caitlin · Post by **Caitlin** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:40 am

I can't tell you how excited I am to be a member of this forum! Unfortunatley Michael, no I am not playing Lizzie, I wish! The actress playing her is Jill Dalton, she is absolutley magnificent, I can't tell you the amount of talent she has, I adore her! The show runs for 4 more weeks and I am soooo glad! Here is a link to the theater company I work for, http://www.eastlynnetheater.org/ if you scroll down, you will see Jill. It's strange to me how much this case sucks you in! I mean, I expected to maybe spend one night after rehearsal reading up on things, but my gosh, this is invading my dreams! We have had some spooky things happen, doors randomly opening and closing, lights flashing on and off. I must admit, I woke up several times one evening only to see figures standing in my room. I'm still contemplating myself whether I believe she did it or not! I do have one qusetion for now, doesn't it seem to anyone that Morse's alibi was a little to "air-tight" I mean, the man remembered the exact numbers of the street cars he rode in that day!

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:18 am

Maybe Bob G. knows of Ms. Dalton ?

Tracy...

Michael · Post by **Michael** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 8:56 am

Yes, Caitlin, Morse's alibi was a little too "air tight". Here's my opinion: When Morse arrived back at the Borden home after being in town that morning, he noticed the crowds outside and figured something terrible happened. Being the "outsider", he figured that he might be blamed for whatever happened, so he hung around for a while outside the house, composing himself and his alibi. Morse remembered all he could about his trip into town that morning and later recited it to the police. I don't think Morse had anything to do with the murders, but he may have suspected that something was wrong with the relationship between Lizzie and her parents. But, then again, I wasn't there. This is just my opinion.

By the way, as you get further into this this case, you will find a lot of strange coincidences that happened. It's a fascinating case, for sure.

theebmonique · Post by **theebmonique** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:34 am

Caitlin,

lizzieandrewborden.com is THE premier website for information on the Borden case. You can look at everything from court documents and newspaper accounts to specific books about the case. Most can be downloaded for free.

There is also a link to subscribe to THE HATCHET, a literary work with articles/contributions from many forum members. It is published by the forum admin., Stefani Koorey.

There are links to many other Lizzie-realted things as well. Here are a few starters:

MAIN: http://lizzieandrewborden.com/

RESEARCH/CRIME LIBRARY/ETC.: http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com/LizzieABorden.htm

HATCHET: http://www.hatchetonline.com/HatchetOnline/index.htm

Tracy...

1bigsteve · Post by **1bigsteve** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 10:47 am

Welcome aboard, Caitlin! I hope you enjoy the Borden case as much as we do. It's nice to see younger people showing interest in this case which is, as of today, 115 years old. You have come to the right place to learn the facts. There are a whole lot of myths, lies and misinformation out there about this murder case. Anytime you want to post a subject, comment on any threads or ask any questions, please feel free. There is a wealth of information in the archives so have fun.

Your friend Jill reminds me a lot of British actress Diana Rigg. Do you have any desires to make a life in the theater? Branch off into films some day?

Again, welcome aboard the "good ship Lizzie."

-1bigsteve (o:

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 1:56 pm

For those who haven't seen the theater's web site, here's the listing for the performance. I'm about 90 minutes from Cape May, thinking of going to see it tonight.

Aug. 1-Sept 1 at 8:30: LIZZIE BORDEN LIVE (World Premiere)
written and performed by award-winning NYC actor Jill Dalton (pictured),
directed by Jack McCullough, with original music by three-time Tony
nominated Larry Hochman. Once and for all did she do it or not? Lizzie is
alone in her home with only her memories and the birds and squirrels in her
yard to keep her company. Opening night party at Martini Beach.
After-Show Discussion at the theater on Fri. Aug. 3.
Open-Captioned performance on Fri. Aug. 10.
American Sign Language interpretation on Aug. 24.

Caitlin · Post by **Caitlin** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:36 pm

Richard! I am really excited to hear you might be coming....I actually just got off the phone with Jill and told her, she was thrilled! If you come tonight, I will most definatley be there, as I am there every night! I hope to meet you there!

Cheryl · Post by **Cheryl** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 2:46 pm

Welcome to the board Caitlin!!!

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 7:26 pm

Hi Caitlin, welcome to the forum. You've come to the right place for learning about Lizzie. We are all learning and despite some of us tackling this enigma for years, it doesn't look like there's any end in sight.

As you may be aware the moderator and founder of this forum, Stefani Koorey, "holds a Ph.D. in theatre history and dramatic criticism, an M.F.A. in theatre management, and an M.A. in theatre arts---all from Penn State University." She will be giving a talk on Lizzie at the Fall River Public Library on August 15th.

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:06 am

Well, Caitlin weclome to the family!! Glad to have you! Hope that you have found this forum as interesting as I have You will learn alot, I have. This the best forum to go to if you want to make that show acurate.
Hope that you enjoy being here, you are among friends.

Bless you, Snokkums

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 12:54 am

Hi!
I looked at your Space! Cool!

Your www says you worked on the Mock Trial. May I ask what that was?

Caitlin · Post by **Caitlin** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 1:52 am

Hi Kat!!!!!!!

Mock Trial is an amazing program that I became involved with when I was just 13. Every year, each state comes up with a different case. They rotate, one year is a civil case, the next year, a criminal case. They put together a workbook which is released to all the schools in the state. This workbook contains all the materials necesary that real attorneys would need to put together a case. There is the statement of facts, including everything that happened. There is the evidence reports as well as witness statements for both Defense and Prosecution/Plantiff witnesses. They provide 3 witnesses for each side so as to make it fair, and try to balance the evidence so that it makes for an interesting trial. What the job of the students is, is to take this information and basically put together the case. There are two attorneys for each side. They are in charge of coming up with the direct examination questions for their witnesses as well as cross examination questions for the opposing sides witnesses, as well as an opening statement and a closing argument. The team then chooses other students to play the witnesses who become experts on their deposition and the facts of the case. It's all great fun, the scary part comes in during competition. Each school prepares both a Defense and a Prosecution case. It is then determined that Say, School A presents its Defense side and school B will present its Prosecution side. Although the direct examination questions are scripted with your own witnesses, the cross examination is completley "improvised" as you never know what the witness from the other school will say in response to your questions that you have prepared. This really forces the attorneys to think on their feet, because if the witness doesn'g give you the answer you need to continue, you must be able to change course and think of questions on the spot. Or, if they give you valuable information, the attorneys need to be able to trap them using other statments or things they have said and make them look less credible. The student attorneys must learn a list of objections and display accurate use of them during this "mock trial" as well as be able to handle depositions and questioning witnesses. The witnesses must be able to stick to their stories and not give any information away when being questioned by the opposing teams attorneys. One attorney does the opening statement (4 minutes) and opens the case up for the jury and judge. Then the other attorney who does not open willl present the closing argument(8 mins), the last thing the judges and jury will hear. The jury is comprised of other students, and what their verdict is really doesn't matter, but it is the judges scores that determines the winners. My freshman year I was a witness, and my sophomore year I took over the role of lead attorney. The cases usually take between 2 and 3 hours to present start to finish, all 6 witnesses being directed, cross-examined and possibly even re-directed and re-crossed (all with time limits so that these trials don't take as long as real ones) as well as the presentation of opening and closing arguments!

Whew, sorry that took so long, I didn't expect to write that much...perhaps I got a bit carried away!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:08 am

Wow! I'm really impressed!
I was reading your explanation and saying "Wow!" and "Wow!" again!
Thanks!

Caitlin · Post by **Caitlin** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:44 am

Thanks! I think the reason I want to become an attorney is cases like these. I don't get tired of reading and reading more information just to get a fact that I might have missed. I absolutley love this forum....I've been on for about 3 hours tonight just reading stuff that I have missed! I must say Kat, you are extremely knowledgable and I so look forward to conversing with you on this forum! You seem brilliant and extremely fun! So although in a few weeks I leave New Jersey and head out to Wyoming for my first year of college, I am thrilled to have found this forum to be able to take with me out there!

Kat · Post by **Kat** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 12:39 am

Thank you. I think you will be an asset!

Did you know there was a "Mock Trial" enacted for a video of The Borden case? It included two Justices of the Supreme Court, at Stanford.

Bob Gutowski · Post by **Bob Gutowski** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:27 am

Bob G. not only posted an item about this in the "Popular" thread, he has reserved two tickets for the evening of Saturday, August 18th, when he and his hubs will be attending the show! Expect a report.

Caitlin · Post by **Caitlin** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 11:32 am

Bob that's awesome! I look forward to meeting you! I'm glad you are coming the 18th.....sadly, that will be my last show before I leave for college, so it will be a very sad night! I'm really excited to see what you think of the show!

Liz Crouthers · Post by **Liz Crouthers** » Thu Aug 09, 2007 4:32 pm

Hey Caitlin, welcome to our quirky little family of Lizzieisms. Glad you're here.

snokkums · Post by **snokkums** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 3:51 am

This is a good family!! Welcome Caitlin. You are welcome here.

Nadzieja · Post by **Nadzieja** » Sat Aug 11, 2007 10:08 pm

Welcome Caitlin, I didn't think I would get so interested in this case either. However once I started reading this forum I was hooked. The people are just wonderful and they are just so full of knowledge it's like going to the "Lizzie Borden College" online. The documentation is unbelievable, also if you have a chance get The Hatchet. It's a GREAT magazine, especially for people interested in this case. I loved your mock trial explanation, the whole experience sounds so interesting. Why didn't they have this when I was in school

???? I'm confident you will have many happy hours on this forum. Again--Welcome!!!!