“Thoughtful, restrained portrayal… gave the audience something more complex to hold onto”

In a show driven by raw rock energy and turbulent emotions, Natalie Charlé Ellis stood out for her thoughtful, restrained portrayal of Emma. As Lizzie’s older sister, she provided a vital contrast to the surrounding chaos, her calm surface often hinting at a sly undercurrent that added layers to the story.

While the production charged forward with feverish momentum, Ellis anchored it with nuance, allowing Emma’s composed exterior to serve as both foil and quiet echo to Lizzie’s unraveling. Her choices gave the audience something more complex to hold onto — a sense that beneath Emma’s collected front, deeper fears and loyalties churned. It was a performance that subtly elevated the stakes, making Lizzie’s ultimate path feel even more haunting.

—D. L. Groover, Abby Koenig and Jim J. Tommaney, Houston Press