Tanisha Minson, left, and Jacqueline Costa star in Blood Relations. Photo: Bethany Scholl, Brock Press

An award-winning play about Lizzie Borden will get new life when Brock’s Dramatic Arts students perform it at the Sean O’Sullivan Theatre Nov. 11 to 13.

Blood Relations, winner of a Governor General’s Award, takes a “play within a play” approach to the story of Lizzie Borden, who was accused and acquitted of her parents’ murder in Massachusetts in 1892.

The play, written by Sharon Pollock, begins 10 years after the murders. Lizzie’s friend, referred to only as “the Actress” (based on Lizzie’s real life actress lover, Nance O’Neil) insistently asks Lizzie to tell her the truth about the murders. Lizzie invents a game in which the Actress plays the role of Lizzie, while the real Lizzie paints a picture of her home and family life.

The play showcases the talents of several undergraduate Dramatic Arts students. Jacqueline Costa plays Lizzie, while Tanisha Minson plays the Actress. Trevor Ketcheson plays Dr. Patrick.

Blood Relations is directed by Danielle Wilson and designed by Kelly Wolf, while the original music was composed by Brock Music graduate Max Holten Andersen.

“I was drawn to Pollock’s tautly woven play-within-a-play structure because it creates the opportunity for heightened realism where anything can happen, much like in a dream,” Wilson said.

Performances are as follows:

Thursday, Nov. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Nov. 12, 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students and seniors. To order, call the Centre for the Arts box office at 905-688-5550 x3257 or email boxoffice@brocku.ca