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Chances are good that if you have dropped in at #92 Second Street, you will have met Will Clawson. The genial cook, daytime tour guide, night time innkeeper and gift shop employee is a presence all around the house. Will started work last October helping out retired past chef, Dave Quigley- and has now mastered the art of jonnycake-making on the cranky old black 1905 kitchen stove.
Will originally hails from California and inherited his interest in the Borden case from his Dad. After a few years at school in Toronto, and a Master’s degree in Spanish Medieval History (“so helpful to the Borden case,” he jokes), Will has landed in the Fall River area. After taking a day tour at the house, Will applied for a job at “Lizzie’s” and was immediately hired.
“There’s a lot of nuance with Lizzie. Although I am convinced of her guilt and have no sympathy for her, I think she may have had a genuine affection for her father. Andrew was simply at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Will enjoys the night tours most- with lots of time to have relaxed conversations with guests about the famous case.
“The case is a total snapshot of Victorian society in New England in 1892,” says Will, an avid history buff.
As to the paranormal aspects at the house which seem to have developed greatly recently,
“I’m a skeptic, but some odd things do happen!”
If Will could be anybody specifically on the day in 1892, it would be John Morse, Lizzie’s uncle; “He was right in the thick of it!”, or Officer Fleet who had the chance to interrogate Lizzie. The Crowe’s barn roof hatchet is Will’s pick for the murder weapon. “The handless hatchet was not new and did not have a sharp edge with gilt.”
Will portrays Officer Phil Harrington in his first time out as an actor. “Harrington had an extraordinary eye for fashion,” says Will, referring to Harrington’s remarkably detailed description of Lizzie’s pink wrapper. Harrington tragically died on his honeymoon shortly after Lizzie was acquitted in 1893.
Will is also a new member of The Second Street Irregulars and passed his initiation with flying colors to become an official “Mutton Eater” this past April.
This year the role of Irish maid, Bridget Sullivan from County Cork will be played by P.E.P. newcomer Kristin Pepe. Shown above getting into the character on June 20th at Lizzie Borden Live, Kristin’s greatest worry is getting down the Irish brogue, which may “for an Italian gal”- be a bit of a challenge. Kristin joins the P.E.P. Players fresh from the Lizzie Borden Society Forum and is an intrepid Mutton Eater First Class! A few years ago Kristin solved the pressing mystery of where Lizzie’s sister Emma went to school-Wheaton Female Seminary, now Wheaton College in Massachusetts, and has since enjoyed researching other Borden-related projects.
Over the years, Borden house employees Kathleen Cramer-Troost, Samantha Carey, Amanda, and former general office manager Michele have taken a stab at playing the Borden maid. Looks like Kristen already knows how to serve up something tastier than mutton!
It hardly seems possible that August 4th is just around the corner again. Rehearsals for this year’s production will take place on August 3rd, and new cast members will be learning the ropes. This year we welcome Joe Razda of Warren, Ohio as Uncle John. Joe comes out to Fall River for a week every year and this year will be the first character visitors will meet on August 4th. Uncle John’s alibi was that he had been in the eastern part of the city visiting relatives at the Emery house on Weybossett St. Joe has ordered a real hair fake beard and John’s signature gray sack suit and string tie for the occasion.
Also new to the August 4th cast this year is Ellen Borden, sister of Barbara Morrissey (our annual Miss Emma). The sisters are relatives of Lizzie through the Cook Borden line. Ellen recently appeared with the Mutton Eaters as Dr. Bowen’s wife, Phoebe at the June 20th performance of Lizzie Borden Live at the Eagle.
Check back daily for news on the production and cast members as we start the one -week countdown to the annual event!
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