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Rabbit Hole
By David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Connie Canaday Howard
Produced by Buffalo Theatre Ensemble
At McAninch Arts Center (the MAC)
425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, Il
Call 630-942-4000, tickets $27 - $30
Thursdays thru Saturdays at 8 pm
Sundays at 2 pm
Running time is 2hours, 10 minutes with intermission
Through March 24, 2008
Wrenching drama about letting go of a tragedy unfolds
David Lindsay-Abaire’s excellent play, Rabbit Hole (a Tony Award nominee for Best Play and Pulitzer Prize winner in 2007) makes its West Suburban premiere at Buffalo Theatre Ensemble at the MAC under Connie Canaday Howard’s polished direction. Rich in irony but without Lindsay-Abaire’s trademark absurdity, Rabbit Hole deals with the sudden accidental death of a four year old boy, Danny. We meet his parents, Becca (Amelia Barrett in an emotionally draining performance) and Howie (Brad Walker in an understated turn) eight months after the tragedy trying to deal with life after losing their only child. Each parent struggles individually to adjust. They vacillate between stagnation, quiet mourning and actually coping. This is a subtle work that has real characters trying hard to move on from their tragedy. It is emotional without being sentimental or melodramatic. Lindsay-Abaire skillfully uses restraint in his naturalistic work that unfolds as realistic and truthful. Rabbit Hole is Lindsay-Abaire’s finest work to date.
He smartly has Becca’s sister Izzy (Cindy Tegtmeyer in a smartly comic performance) as the younger, irresponsible soul pregnant without a husband or job. Izzy is the spark the family needs. Together with the mother, Nat (the spunky Debra Rodkin) they try as best they can to help the couple cope while still being the quirky people they have are. Early scenes produce some humor and give a glimpse into how a family strains to both comfort and motivate each other over tragic events. The subtle movement differs as both Becca and Howie act out their grief differently. Becca will not have sex with Howie and Howie watches videos of Danny nightly. We empathize with their struggles as we see slowly how each come to grips with the reality that life must move on. When Jason (Bryan Bosque), the boy who drove the car that accidentally hit Danny as he ran into the street chasing his dog, attempts to visit the parents to acknowledge his responsibility, Becca is open to talking but Howie still blames the teen. These scenes are intelligently played out as are the scenes with Nat bonding with Becca as only a mother-daughter can.
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I think this play works as a gripping work that satisfactorily and realistically gives insights as how people actually complete the grieving process. and how grief affects family relationships. It is a moving and sad work filled with complex characters trying to forgive themselves and each other for an event that they couldn’t control. Amelia Barrett and Brad Walker were excellent with Cindy Tegtmeyer and Debra Rodkin offering effective supporting roles. You’ll feel good about the power of the human spirit after seeing Rabbit Hole. Buffalo Theatre Ensemble’s production values, with a terrific set designed by Michael W. Moon and lighting design by Jon Gantt and Ariann Hinz and sound design by Galen G. Ramsey, are first class. The western suburbs are lucky to have this fine Equity theatre company.
Recommended
Tom Williams
Talk Theatre in Chicago podcast
Date Reviewed: February 16, 2008
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