Archway Theatre's TRIAL OF LIZZIE BORDEN Brings Famous Hatchet Murders To The Stage

It was the trial of the century. Two people savagely murdered in their home, and their own daughter the chief suspect in the brutal crime. Archway Theatre's "Trial of Lizzie Borden" brings the gory details to the stage in this exploration of the details of the crime, the prosecution's case, and the testimony of the witnesses called to the stand when they present their original production inside the Woodbury University Library 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 19 through Nov. 3. General admission tickets are $28

"Long before the OJ Simpson trial captured the attention of the world, the Borden murders were the crime of their century, and technically remain unsolved to this day," said Steven Sabel, producing artistic director of Archway Theatre Company.

Sabel compiled the script of the play from actual transcripts of the inquest and trial of Lizzie Borden. The play examines the testimony of key witnesses and the events they reveal which led up to the brutal hatchet murders that shook the small town of Falls River, Massachusetts, and soon spread throughout the world.

"Most people have heard the eerie nursery rhyme that was propagated by school children after the trial, but few people know the gruesome details of the crime, and the prevailing theories of how Lizzie got away with it," Sabel said.

The Archway production explores the theory that Lizzie committed the murders in the nude, so as to avoid any blood evidence getting on her clothing. Sabel believes that after washing herself in a basin in the cellar of the house, Lizzie disposed of her bloody rags by incinerating them to ashes.

"She was a brilliant and calculating sociopathic killer who knew how to use the structure of the society around her to help her avoid hanging for the crimes," Sabel said.

Sommer Branham stars in the title role of the play. Branham's recent credits include Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream," Nancy in "The Women," and Pistol in "The Merry Wives of Windsor." Jesse Durant portrays the chief inquisitor, Hosea Knowlton, and Nick Brustin appears as prosecuting attorney, William Moody, who was later propelled to the US Supreme Court. EmLee Vassilos, Tony Feole, Melissa Virgo, Jennifer Hawkins, and Paul Carpenter portray the various key witnesses in the case.

"We have a remarkable cast of actors who bring these true-life characters to the stage to tell this compelling story of murder and intrigue right before your eyes," said Sabel. "It's pretty eerie when a naked woman hatchets someone to death just a few feet from the front row."

The play is presented inside the library on the campus of Woodbury University, which will be converted into the courtroom for the trial, and the ugly double murder scene. "The Trial of Lizzie of Borden" is the fourth production is a series of plays presented by Archway Theatre Company at various sites on the university campus.

Woodbury University is located at 7500 N. Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank. There is free parking on campus for performances. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. on performance nights. A special opening night gala will be held following the performance Saturday, Oct. 20. For additional information visit: www.archwayla.com or call (818)980-PLAY (7529).