Bury The Hatchet

Since 2017, Out Of The Forest Theatre have been taking stories from history's darkest corners and bringing them to life in their own unique way, injecting very true stories with their unique recipe of storytelling paired with ear-worming bluegrass and folk music. Their latest production, Bury The Hatchet, details the life and trial of the infamous Lizzie Borden, who was accused of murdering her father and stepmother. Borden's legacy stretches from multiple books all the way to a famed skipping rhyme, but how much of it is actually true? Was Borden a criminal mastermind or tragically caught in the crossfire of the crime? Bury The Hatchet refuses to give a definitive answer and instead allows the audience to play the role of the jury, hearing a wide range of evidence in a show that spares no grime or gore.

From the start, Sasha Wilson's script is a clear passion project. Adopting many actual transcripts from the investigation, Wilson is able to transport the audience to 1892 Fall River, MA with incredible accuracy while still maintaining a modern-day perspective on the story. Wilson, who is also a member of the cast, drops details throughout that demonstrate her phenomenal level of research on Borden, going as far as to visit the genuine house in which the murders took place, which is now, surprisingly, a bed and breakfast. In addition to the factual presentation, Wilson's script showcases a variety of fictional elements such as an anachronistic news broadcast and alternative what if scenarios, which excel in creating a unique vision that belongs entirely to the creators.

Making comedy about genuine horrors can be incredibly risky, but none of the jokes come at the expense of the tragedy that occurred. Instead they spark from the performers themselves and the entire premise of portraying the events on stage. Almost immediately the cast poke fun at themselves for starting their story in media res, and from then the fourth wall smartly becomes an open door. Whether the actors are bickering or engaging with the audience, the performance becomes an incredibly shared experience between performers and spectators.

Speaking of the performers, all three deliver magnificent performances that shine in both comedy and drama. Along with a richly developed chemistry between them, this is what makes the production truly special. While Sasha Wilson plays the role of primary storyteller and spends much of her time as Lizzie Borden, Lawrence Boothman and David Leopold portray the remainder of the characters and are wonderfully entertaining to watch as they flick through costumes and props to become fathers, mothers, sisters, doctors and friends. Boothman's electric flamboyance is infectious as his performance spans the most range of people, while Leopold's more stoic demeanour works hand in hand with the other actors to elevate the more dramatic scenes while still holding his own as a comedic performer. None of that is to discredit Sasha Wilson either, whose performance is reflective of the research and knowledge she has undertaken. Every word from her is filled with the confidence of someone who knows what they are talking about, and her delivery goes a long way in ensuring Borden is kept as a sympathetic character whose innocence or guilt should be questioned.