A POISON CROWN -THE LOUISA COLLINS CASE is the second in Deadhouse – Tales of Sydney Morgue. Once again it takes a little known true crime story and presents it in a close up, immersive production inside The Rocks Discovery Museum. The last one was the Lennie Lawson Case (SAG Review) which was set in living memory. As it occurred in the late 1880s, this case fits much more easily into the surroundings of the venerable building . And once again, it is the story that carries the interest and entertainment value of the production.
Louisa Collins was accused of murdering her husband and put on trial for not just his murder, but of her first husband also. Family testified for and against her and all the neighbours in the little street in Botany had witness to bear. Her case was taken up by the Quaker community and was seen as being allied in some way to the Suffragist movement. In a time when murderers, including women, could be hanged Collins’ trial became tabloid fodder in Colonialist NSW. It was discussed in Parliament and it seemed everyone had an opinion as to her guilt or otherwise.
In this production Louisa is played by Jacqui Robson and she does a great job. Especially during the trial when the audience is seated around as the jury and the defendant does not speak. It would be easy to overact here but Robson has the character just right, humble and silently over-awed. Without the audience sympathy for Collins and her situation, the production would struggle even more than it does. Unfortunately, there are issues with A POISON CROWN.
The performance we attended was very shouty. The male defence and prosecution were way too loud for the small space and that made it difficult to concentrate on the evidence. Steve Donelan and Chris Miller portray strong characters at loggerheads but their antagonism was abrasive when one wanted to be rational about the evidence being presented … part of the solving instinct of true crime followers. There is also a long scene when the men, as patriarchal powers, simply yell at each other and the impact of the misogyny is lost.
What I did respond to, and was desperate to find out more about, was the involvement of the Religious Society of Friends. The pro-Collins Quaker advocate is nicely played by Susan Jordan who inspires real engagement in the story. I was struck by the Lizzie Borden feel to the politics here and I would love to know more about the campaigns that were run to support Collins.
The costuming works well for the men but is a little new, undistressed, for the women. The audio travels with the crowd and can echo from a distant room effectively. Our host for the evening is a female warder played with considerable skill by Kyla Ward. Ward has the responsibility of shepherding the audience around the building and she has some delightful bot mots as she looks after the welfare of the elder audience members. At once cynical and knowledgeable, we hang on her interlocutions to develop the atmosphere and plot.
It’s a fascinating tale to be sure and Ward’s warder takes great delight in some of the more gruesome aspects of the case, part of the attraction of going to immersive theatre about true life crime. I am sure there are many more tales to be told from The Sydney Morgue and I look forward to the writers Gina Schien for LOUISA COLLINS and Robert Armstrong for LENNIE LAWSON bringing new stories to life.
A POISON CROWN -THE LOUISA COLLINS CASE Blancmange Productions [Facebook] and Actors Anonymous [Facebook] continues at The Rocks Discovery Museum [Facebook] until 19th May. Tickets at Eventbrite.