On October 24, the University of Windsor released its production of Blood Relations, a play about Lizzie Borden, the young woman accused and acquitted in 1892 of murdering her father and stepmother. The award-winning piece retells the events prior to the double-murder, all whilst questioning Borden’s guilt. Vanessa Lancione, fourth-year BFA-Acting student, plays the dual role of both Borden and The Actress, Borden’s companion. Her Campus had the wonderful opportunity to interview Lancione this week to discuss her favourite parts about acting in Blood Relations, her acting history, and goals for her acting career.
1. What first attracted you to the dual role of the Actress and Lizzie?
I had studied this play in high school with an Acting teacher I had in Toronto, Jill Frappier. We did some scene studies from the play and I had always been so in love with the duality of the entire play in general as it is essentially a play within a play. I loved the idea of being able to play two entirely different characters apart from myself, and when the play was selected for our season, I was ecstatic. As a 4th year in the BFA-Acting program, we are required to have two roles out of the six shows in the season. Blood Relations is my University Players debut, and Twelfth Night will be my second next semester.
2. In spite of Borden’s murderous history, is there anything about her character’s personality that you find relatable? Do you find that you can relate with the Actress?
I can relate to the Actress in the sense that I am an actress myself and have a bit of a flare for the dramatic; however, I can also relate to Lizzie as a woman who is frustrated by gender roles and societal norms in which women feel trapped. There’s an instance in the play where Lizzie tries her best to be a “normal” girl, and I can’t count the amount of times where I’ve felt the need to change or conform to what people deem acceptable and normal. The point of view that the playwright, Sharon Pollock, seems to take in this story was that Lizzie was simply a woman ahead of her time, and felt completely trapped in her own home and society. She says to her father, “If I promise to be a good girl forever and ever, would anything change?” That to me is what is particularly heartbreaking, and could be seen as a universal theme every woman has experienced at least once in her life.
3. Had you heard of the Lizzie Borden case prior to starring in Blood Relations?
I knew about the case prior to being cast in the show as I had studied the play briefly in high school. Once I was cast; however, we had to do an extensive amount of research into the time period as well as the trials in order to accurately portray the Given Circumstances of the play.
4. What do you like most about acting in Blood Relations?
I love going on stage every night and knowing that the work my cast and crew have done will pull off. I get a rush of adrenaline every time I walk on stage at the top of the show, and can’t wait to perform. This show is very thrilling and exciting, which in turn, gets me very excited to perform it. As a cast, we have an incredible sense of ensemble and can trust in the work we’ve put in. I know that every time I go on stage, my fellow actors bring all they’ve got to the table. This is an incredible feeling to have in theatre. The story is beautiful, the style of theatre is mesmerizing, and the characters are ones to remember.
5. What do you love most about acting?
As cliché as it may sound, I love putting myself in the lives and circumstances of other people. It feels like you’re a young kid playing pretend all over again. It has always been something I’ve enjoyed and get excited doing. And as much as acting is about becoming someone else, it is also about bringing aspects of yourself into the role.
6. How long have you been an actress?
I started acting when I was 7 years old. My parents thought that by putting me in acting classes, they could get me to be a little less shy – and boy, did that ever work! I continued to take acting classes and eventually got into the Regional Arts Program (RAP) at Cawthra Park Secondary School in Mississauga as a Drama Major. I then auditioned for theatre school and found Windsor’s BFA-Acting program to be one of the best in the country. I felt very at home here, and could tell that the caliber of work, professionalism, and sense of ensemble among the classes were something I looked for in an acting program. Needless to say, I do not regret my decision in coming here.
7. What would you like to do in the future in regards to acting?
Ideally, I would love a career in film and television, as well as in theatre. I hope to one day work at Stratford, Shaw, Soulpepper, and even Broadway if I’m lucky. Although my original love is for the theatre, I have recently had a desire to be in film as it is something else I really enjoy. I think an MFA-Acting degree could also be in my future, but only time will tell. This year, the graduating classes of all BFA-Acting programs in Ontario get to showcase their talents in a general audition in Toronto for Theatre Ontario, in front of agents, casting directors, and artistic directors. Hopefully something will come out of that as well!
8. What advice would you give for students on campus who want to pursue acting?
For anyone wanting to pursue acting, I would say to simply give it a try – see if it is something you actually enjoy and are good at doing. If you like it and think you have some talent, take up some classes. Just as it is with most things, acting takes a lot of work and commitment. You have to be open to trying new things, vulnerable enough to experience things viscerally, strong enough to take constructive criticism (and apply it to your work), and brave enough to take on the challenge.
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Blood Relations completed its final show on Sunday, November 9. Lancione can be seen again in the Winter 2015 term production of Twelfth Night.