Ringed by wooden shelves containing props, curios, and traditional folk-bluegrass instruments, the Out of the Forest Theatre cast crackles to life with an energy thick enough to enrapture all the way to the back row.
Dotting between past and present, story and myth, song and speech, Bury the Hatchet brings a uniquely powerful work of research theatre to the stage, delving into the quasi-mythic persona of alleged axe murderer (hatchet, actually) Lizzie Borden, and the spiderweb of events that comprise the infamous Fall River murders of 1892 – watching them smoulder, spin, shriek, and sing into vivid existence.
Bury the Hatchet shines for its beautiful storytelling. Passed effortlessly between the three performers on stage – each of whom inhabit multiple characters with brilliant skill, drama, and comedic timing – the show manages to unpick many of the primary sensationalist and historic theories, questions, and possible motives tied up in one of the most complex murder cases of the 1800s. Stating from the beginning that their intention is not to find Lizzie guilty or innocent, and that no solid decision will ever be formed about her personal character or story, Bury the Hatchet is instead an exploration of what could have been, why things may or may not have happened in a certain way, and what a burden (or lack) of evidence can mean to both the individual and the observing collective.
Slickly combined with haunting live music and song, the Fall River murders – and every person of note in the case, ranging from family members to courtroom judges – are brought into clear view, echoing across the contours and shadows of the stage like reanimated ghosts. The production masterfully balances a strong atmosphere of Southern Gothic intrigue with introspective emotivity and genuine comedic relief, flitting between each plane of feeling with impressive smoothness. Whether you know Lizzie Borden’s complex story or not, Bury the Hatchet is not to be missed this August.
Bury the Hatchet is on at Queen Dome at Pleasance Dome from 13th–25th August.
Main Photo Credit: Reg Madison
