Lizzie Borden swings a mean axe in Lizzie the Musical, both as a rage-fueled maybe murderess and as the electrifying voice leading this hard-charging, concert-style rock musical. For director-choreographer Jennifer J. Hopkins’ bracing new production at the Keegan, Lizzie’s voice — and her rage and riveting determination — reside in Caroline Graham.
Lacing Lizzie’s fury with a winking sense of humor, Graham positively shreds the grunge-punk rock score composed by Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer and Alan Stevens Hewitt, with lyrics by Cheslik-DeMeyer and Tim Maner. Maner wrote the show’s book, which hews close to the known facts and testimony that have shaped public perception of the notorious 1892 murder case.
Guitarists Jefferson Hirshman and Jason Seiler are the real swinging axes here, standouts in the show’s sick band, conducted by music director Marika Countouris. From the strutting rock of “The House of Borden,” to Lizzie’s lacerating ballad “This Is Not Love” and her brash, grunge-soaked declaration “Gotta Get Out of Here,” the pumping music propels Graham’s powerful vocals as much as the potent subject matter.
Brigid Wallace Harper invests strong-willed servant Bridget with an appealing fire suited to Bridget’s suspicious role in these grave events. Likewise, Sydne Lyons makes a strong impression as big sis Emma, who declares her support and loyalty with “Sweet Little Sister,” before conveniently leaving town to create a rock-solid alibi for herself on the day of the murders.
The songs are well worth listening to… blistering expressions of female rage and revolution. And Graham sounds like a storm set loose whipping through Lizzie’s soaring solos, and teaming up effectively with Savannah Blackwell, Harper, and Lyons on numbers like punk-rock ripper “Why Are All These Heads Off?” and impassioned power ballad “Burn the Old Thing Up.”
