OPEN AUDITIONS
JULY 21 AT 6:30 PM
At Acting Ensemble on the Avenue
602 E. Mishawaka Avenue in Mishawaka
For the August 5 StageWorks Staged Reading of:
“BLOOD RELATIONS” by Sharon Pollock.
Directed by Kyle Hutslar
The Story: This is a psychological murder mystery based on historical fact and speculation surrounding the life of Lizzie Borden and the murders of her father and stepmother, crimes with which Borden was arrested for, though acquitted from and found not guilty.
Characters
- Abigail Borden, the step-mother of Lizzie.
- Andrew Borden, Lizzie’s father, owner of the property.
- Dr. Patrick, Lizzie’s closest ally in the play, also the town doctor.
- Emma Borden, older sister.
- Harry Wingate, Lizzie’s step-uncle and the catalyst for her decision to murder her parents. He arrives at the Borden home to convince Lizzie’s father to sign away ownership of the family farm to his wife, Harry’s sister. This means that Lizzie’s hold on the estate is in danger.
- Lizzie Borden, the play’s central character.
- The Actress, a friend of Lizzie’s and, by all appearances, her lesbian lover.
- Bridget O’Sullivan, the Borden Household Irish maid, Lizzie’s friend
Auditions consist of cold readings of side chosen by the director. Staged readings require no memorization and are performed with script in hand. There will be a few rehearsals (dates TBD) over the period of approximately 2 weeks.
If you need an alternate audition time, please contact Kyle at kylehutslar@gmail.com
Historical context
The play is based on the case of Lizzie Borden. On August 4, 1892, Borden’s father’s body was “discovered” by Lizzie in a downstairs room of the family home. Soon, the Bordens’ maid, Sullivan, discovered the body of Borden’s stepmother. The subsequent investigation and trial of Lizzie set a precedent for media coverage.
Lizzie was arrested for murder and the trial date set for June 5, 1893. The trial lasted fourteen days and caused a national sensation: it was the first public trial in the United States to be covered extensively by the media. Popular opinion was split on the innocence or guilt of Lizzie Borden, with strong support coming from feminists and animal rights advocates.
Lizzie Borden was acquitted—her lawyers having persuaded the jury that the evidence was circumstantial. She continued to live in Fall River in a fashionable Victorian mansion located on “The Hill” with her sister. However, she continued a life of social circumscription, even more limited than before the murders, since she was understandably shunned by the community. She died in 1927 and was buried in the Borden family plot.
The published version of Blood Relations won the Canadian Governor General’s Award in 1981.
Sharon Pollock, (19 April 1936 – 22 April 2021) was a Canadian playwright, actor, and director. She was Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary (1984), Theatre New Brunswick (1988–1990) and Performance Kitchen & The Garry Theatre, the latter which she herself founded in 1992. In 2007, she was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Pollock was one of Canada’s most notable playwrights and was a major part of the development of what is known today as Canadian Theatre.
