I find it incredulous to learn that it has only been 50 years since capital punishment was abolished in Australia and Britain. It is equally shocking that 35% of the world’s countries still officially carry out the death penalty, among them: China, Iran, North Korea, Yemen and the USA, while Belarus is the last remaining European country with it on the statute books. In most of these countries males and females are equally sentenced. It is with this knowledge serving as a background that the tale of Louisa Collins (1841-1891), the last woman hanged in NSW, fascinates.
It is 1888 and Australia has one of the highest standards of living. Although under-the-lash penal times are long gone the gallows still casts a long shadow. In the suburb of Botany a woman in her late 30s is convicted of murdering her much younger husband Michael Collins, previously a lodger in her house The case becomes a national scandal when it is discovered that her first husband, Charles Andrews, seems to have been done in by the same method – arsenical poisoning. Louisa garners some sympathy from the law due to her sex, though little from society and eventually none from turncoat (on the matter of capital punishment at least) Sir Henry Parkes – the then Premier. As her past is raked over – a propensity to enjoy a drink and a dance, and flirtatious familiarity with her male boarders – her neighbours bad mouth her and the case escalates. She is tried for the murder of her husbands not once but thrice without a verdict found and after 6 months of prison confinement a final trial brings home the result desired by the male jurors: Execution by hanging. The idiocy of her trials, the mysogyny of the times and the debacle of her hanging are summed up in the title of this play.
Louisa never asked for anyone to speak in her favour in court and no witnesses were brought. Conversely she remained stoic and steadfast declaring her innocence throughout. In a similar vein to Lindy Chamberlain a 100 years later she was viewed as hard, villainous, unmotherly. Added to this Louisa’s beauty and desire for a better life were cards truly played against her and no wonder the moniker “The Borgia of Botany” was applied to her. One of seven children and the same amount of surviving children herself, like so many of her class she had lived a life of drudgery. Botany was a tough place for its denizens with toxic tanneries and woeful wool stores akimbo. Survival here was a challenge especially with arsenic a common component in the disinfecting of wool and skins. Compound the situation with poor sanitary and rat plagues and many naturally reached out on the easily got remedy of the day “Rough on Rats”. The discovery of said product in Louisa’s home was her deathknell.
Gina Schein’s play contains most of the salacious fodder from the accounts of the day and it is served up with great relish by the cast, especially the very fine narrating/tour guiding by Kyla Ward – her characterisation was as chilling as the tale. Well judged passion was on display by Susan Jordan as well. This inventive promenade theatre piece utilises every inch of the Rocks Discovery Museum cunningly. Guidance from the director (Liviu Monsted) to ensure that at times the actors reduced the performance size and volume in voice would have enhanced this production. Immersive theatre of this ilk and in this space can be reduced to the everyday allowing subtlety and nuance. However it was pleasing to be in an arena where every word is heard – not always on offer at the larger professional theatres these days I recently experienced. Costuming and legal wigs are impressive (Susan Carveth) and Production Design (Bronte Shuftan) suggests the period very well. Bravos to Kyle Stephens for reinventing the existing lighting and designing specials throughout the ups and downs and corridors of this intriguing venue .
Come see this show and take heed of Ms Ward’s (paraphrased) advice – take away this tale and do with it what you will. I certainly will by reading Catherine Overington’s award winning book Last Woman Hanged.
Mark G Nagle – Theater Now
A Poison Crown
Gina Schien
1st to 5th May and 15th to 19th May
6pm and 7:30pm sessions from 1st to 4th May, and 15th to 19th May
Venue: The Rocks Discovery Museum
Theatre Company: Blancmange Productions
Duration: 70 min
Set in 19th century Sydney, A Poison Crown brings to life the characters who fought for and against convicted murderer Louisa Collins’ appointment with the gallows. Tried four times and eventually convicted, Louisa was the last woman hanged in New South Wales after it was discovered that both her husbands had died from arsenic poisoning.
Ticket Prices
Adult $43.29 | Concession $32.74
