By Talia Carlisle

Have you ever heard someone scream bloody murder?

It’s worth cutting down the door to watch LIZZIE, the rocking hit musical by WITCH Music Theatre, where murder sounds hellishly good…. This punk rock’n’rollercoaster will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. So tighten your corset and quieten the jury ready to hear the magic of LIZZIE at Circa Theatre until 7 September.

This is not your typical musical (thank goodness), and Lizzie isn’t your typical Sunday school teacher brought up in a wealthy but dysfunctional family in a small town in Massachusetts.

Lizzie is a star for all the wrong reasons when she becomes the prime suspect in the 1892 real-life murder case of Lizzie’s father Andrew – a wealthy businessman, and his wife Abby in the small town of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston.

But enough about them, our Lizzie is sensationally brought to life by Bailea Twomey (Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Te Rangi, Tapuika) against a backdrop of stunning elegance, charm and architecture in the Borden’s family home turned to crime scene, with Lizzie spinning the tales the town wants to hear.

Directed by Ben Tucker-Emerson, and Co-Director & Choreographer Greta Casey-Solly (Te Atiawa), it’s no doubt the movement is seamlessly woven into every scene with beautiful storytelling and dramatic fashion by costume designer Rhys Tunley.

You can’t forget the divine harmonies from our leads. Vocal Director Maya Handa Naff has her work cut out with these enchanting and surprising harmonies that keep us on our toes and in awe of such wonderful performers with stand out songs Somebody Will Do Something, What the F**k Now, Lizzie?, and Burn the Old Thing Up – where  things really get burned up with full dramatic effect!

No evidence is passed over, and no stone unturned on this adventure through history which has become immortalised in film, in music, and in a famous poem which sounds epic onstage with electric guitar by Steve Morrison in our prologue Forty Whacks.

Production Designer Joshua Tucker-Emerson ensures Lizzie’s world looks fabulous too, helped by Lighting Designer Alex ‘Fish’ Fisher who has installed a million lights by my count, and we are blinded with talent all evening in the beautiful Borden home.

The melodious and curious music and lyrics by Alan Stevens Hewitt and Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer become my favourites instantly with the lyrics, book and additional music by Tim Maner.

Just like her small town, we fall in love with Lizzie and her angelic voice in This Is Not Love, so if Lizzie is in the wrong – we don’t want to be right!

Right beside Lizzie is her stoic older sister, the ever patient Emma Borden performed by Jane Leonard (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Hine).

Alice Russell is a wonderful partner in crime for Lizzie, performed by the captivating Rachel McSweeney whose innocent voice and melodies are raised to the heavens.

Housekeeper Bridget ‘Maggie’ Sullivan is only too happy to bring these women back to earth and to their senses, and this is a role Aimée Sullivan clearly enjoys while rocking the house down in style, in Mercury Rising, and The Fall of the House of Borden/”The The Alibi”.

Just like any rock’n’roll story, our queen needs a rocking band, delivered with rockstar quality in Music Director Hayden Taylor (Ngai Tahu).

Steve Morrison rocks out on guitar and pulls our heartstrings as well as guitar strings in Lizzie’s ballad This Is Not Love.

Our rockstar drummer Becs Watson manages the difficult task of maximising the punk rock elements of the show without drowning out our leads who have immaculate annunciation which helps carry us along with ease, along with Bassist Grace Kendrick.

Esther Lee is mesmerising on Cello, turning every rock ballad and anthem into a work of art.

There is so much talent onstage and offstage in this production including our swing actors Adriana Calabrese and Jade Merematira who are legends in the WITCH repertoire that I look forwards to seeing and hearing onstage again soon.

There are also so many thank yous in the programme which does not surprise me, as every WITCH production is filled with love you can see and hear, and this talented and hardworking extended community is my only explanation for how LIZZIE can be pulled together with such brilliant quality and technical brilliancy at Circa in four short weeks of rehearsals. As usual, I am completely amazed.

WITCH succeeds from start to finish with its brilliant selection of yet another magically engaging and innovative work, this time championing female empowerment, a strong LGBTQIA+ love story, and justice – but for who, you must watch to find out.

No wonder LIZZIE is selling out quick! Where else can you find mystery, intrigue and flawless fashion, wrapped in a bloody beautiful bow of exploding talent by Wellington’s best creators and innovators on the cutting edge of musical theatre.