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The role of Bridget Sullivan, the Borden’s Irish maid, is the glue which connects the characters and revelation of the plot to the audience. No one who exited the house on August 4th could forget the letter- perfect Irish accent of Kathleen Troost-Cramer. With a mother whose maiden name was McMurphy, we might have a good idea where the great Irish brogue originated! Kathleen, a daytime tour guide at the house on Second Street for the past three summers, has no problem slipping into the humor, posture, and dialect of Bridget. With a B.A. in Theatre from Emerson College, Kathleen is no stranger to the actor’s life either. Currently Kathleen is pursuing her PhD in Biblical Studies at Boston University and manages to squeeze in a trip to Israel to work on an archeological dig, work during the week at the Lizzie Borden B&B Museum and pursue many other interests and hobbies. Kathleen’s husband Bob is sometimes seen behind the old black vintage stove at the Borden house as he ties on the apron to flip the jonnycakes on a weekend for overnight guests.
Kathleen has a few ideas as to whodunnit: “I think Bridget is the most mysterious person in the case and knew more than she told in order to protect her reputation. Just what did she know? I believe John Morse killed Abby Borden that morning and an acquaintance of Morse’s later killed Andrew. Bridget unknowingly let Andrew’s killer in the house. After working here and seeing the layout of the house, my initial assumption that Lizzie was innocent soon disappeared. It is impossible to believe that Lizzie did not know what was happening-that she knew nothing about the plot. With Abby’s time of death a little “wonky”, as to the exact moment, there is room to believe that Abby died very early on and could be in the time frame where Morse could have managed it and taken a street car down to the Emery house to establish his alibi.
If I could play any other role than Bridget it would be Lizzie herself because there are so many ways to approach that character. I do not think she wielded the hatchet- but she sure had a hand in it! If I could have answers to three questions only they would be: 1. What was the truth about the attempted purchase of Prussic acid? 2. Was there ever a note sent to Abby and if so who was sick and who delivered it? 3. What caused the rift between Emma and Lizzie in 1905?”
It’s hard to believe that August 4th was Ted and Lorraine Gregoire’s first plunge into the dramatic arts. The pair, now married for 36 years, was as calm and confident as Tracy and Hepburn! Both of them were born in Webster, MA. but now live in Dudley, MA. Ted works in the Security Dept at Commerce Insurance in Webster, MA. His dapper and distinguished bearing lent a real believability to the role of Dr. William Dolan, city medical examiner. There’s something about a moustache!
Dr. Dolan arrives in the Borden parlor
Lorraine works at Gentex Optics in Dudley and is part of the polarized division that makes polycarbonate lenses for prescription sunglasses. Miss Manning was an ideal part for Lorraine, whose natural friendly “approachability” and skill at ad libbing on the spot gave visitors the feeling it was really 1892!
Getting ready for the first tour- always a large crowd
As far as their personal interests, Ted works many hours, so to relax likes to work around the house. Lorraine loves the old black & white movies from the ’30’s & 40’s and books, especially mysteries which of course led to the Borden case. “It’s never boring because there is always some new fact about someone involved that makes it interesting.”
Dr. Dolan looks down upon the body of Abby Borden, “This was no heart attack!”
Ted thinks Uncle John did it. Lorraine thinks it was a collaboration between Emma, Lizzie and Uncle John, with Bridget getting caught up in the middle, and just wanting to get out and away without having to say any more than she had to. Ted and Lorraine are both Second Street Irregulars and members of the Noble Order of Mutton Eaters. Stay tuned for more great things from this pair!
Miss Manning, a.k.a. Lorraine Gregoire in real life, posed as The Fall River Herald’s Ace Girl Reporter out under the “pear trees” of #92’s parking lot on August 4th.
Dressed in a green plaid summer cotton frock with jaunty black straw hat, Miss Manning had her steno pad in hand to interview guests and visitors as they exited the Borden cellar. As history records, John Cunningham, the chap who was ambling down Second Street after exiting Wade’s market, overheard Mrs. Churchill exclaiming to a friend in front of Hall’s Livery about the shocking assault on Andrew Borden. Cunningham, being an enterprising and helpful sort of guy, beat feet to Gorman’s Paper and Paint Store down the end of Second Street and rang up several newspapers and eventually got around to calling the police too!
Mr. Manning, from the Herald, was soon dashing up to #92 in his carriage as one of the first on scene. We had a “Miss Manning” this year, who filled a much-needed role of transitioning guests from the gift shop to the house, setting that 1892 tone immediately, and continuing it at the exit. Visitors were amused, and naturally very chatty about what they had seen inside. Miss Manning’s easy, friendly warmth and vintage charm disarmed the crowds- for who in this day and age doesn’t enjoy escaping into the Past- even for a little while? And of course- EVERYBODY wanted to give their opinions on whodunnit!
Read all about Miss Manning’s Big Day in the Pages section to the right.
This year Ben, who works at the Second Street house whenever he can sandwich in a day between performances and school, created a first-time role- that of Detective Seaver. In years gone by, Ben has played Mr. Cunningham, the fellow who was crossing the street after coming out of Wade’s Market and overheard Mrs. Churchill exclaiming about the killings to a man she knew in front of the livery.
Ben hails from Charlestown, R.I. where he has lived his whole young life. He works as a PASS Direct Services Worker thru CranstonArc, serving adults and children with physical or mental disabilities, and has impressive stage credentials.
He is currently a junior at the University of Rhode Island majoring in theatre. Upon completion of graduation requirements next year, he will be a professional actor with a Bachelor of the Fine Arts degree with a focus in acting. Ben joins Jeff in thinking Lizzie did the deeds!
Watch out for this young man- Broadway is calling! Here are some of Ben’s post high school credits:
Beauty and the Beast
Jeff Masson is usually happiest when tromping around cemeteries on a crisp autumn day wearing his Sox jacket and baseball cap. A native of Somerset, Massachusetts (just over the Brightman St. Bridge), Jeff loves history and travel- and of course the Borden case and all things Victorian. A “young face” on an “old soul”, Jeff is a frequent visitor to Oak Grove Cemetery and the house on Second Street. Nick-named “Cemetery Jeff” by all his friends, Jeff made his acting debut this year as The Body of Andrew Borden for the August 4th re-enactments. The effect was startling- a blood-stained sheet covering a prone body on the black sofa led many visitors to use their imaginations to guess at the grisly presence beneath the sheet. Jeff admits he could actually see through the sheet, and enjoyed watching the reactions of the visitors. Sometimes LESS is MORE!
Jeff is also among the ranks of the Second Street Irregulars, Noble Order of Mutton Eaters (Fall River Chapter) and often leads interesting tours of Borden-related grave sites in Oak Grove.
If Jeff ever ages, he is ripe for the part of Uncle John Morse. GO, RED SOX! (photo credit: Lorraine Gregoire)
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