Run, Skip, and Jump to See Rabbit Hole

The Manhattan Theatre Club has been known for the last three decades for presenting contemporary theater. It won both the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play in 2005 with "Doubt". And it may be repeating history with its current production of "Rabbit Hole".

The Corbetts seem to have everything. They live in a beautiful home in an affluent neighborhood in Larchmont, NY, have a cute four year-old child, and an adoring dog. But tragedy suddenly hits them like a ton of bricks. Their son, Danny, chasing his dog in the street, is struck by a car driven by a local high school senior, Jason (John Gallagher, Jr.). How does any family deal with a situation like this.

The play opens with Becca (Cynthia Nixon) folding Danny's laundry, eight months after the accident. She's preparing his clothes to be donated to Goodwill. Becca is a former employee with Sotheby's Auction House who gave up her career to be with the family. Her husband Howie (John Slattery) comforts himself by watching videos of Danny at play. (The voice on the video is John's real live son, Harry.) There is not a dry eye in the Biltmore Theater during this episode.

Becca's mother, Nat (Tyne Daly) also has a history of a lost child. Her 30 year old son succumbed to heroin addiction and committed suicide.

The play centers on how families cope with death, with tragedy, with moving on with one's life. The couple is young enough that the possibility of having another child is still a possibility. But Becca cannot fathom the thought of even attempting this. The family dog has been in safe-keeping with Nat. Howie wants him back, needs him back. Becca can not understand why. Becca wants to sell the house, Howie objects. Should Danny's room, untouched for eight months, finally be morphed into a something other than a child's bedroom? As mother and daughter clean out Danny's room, Nat picks up a tiny sneaker. Becca replies "Don't. Quick and clean, like a Band-Aid. Otherwise, we'd never get through it". Everyone can relate to cleaning up after a loved one has passed. You will never forget this scene.

This is playwright David Lindsay-Abaire's first attempt at Broadway. He has written the wacky comedy "Fuddy Mears" and "Kimberly Akimbo" (about to be made into a film). He has a gift for comedy and comic relief is indeed a necessity.

"Rabbit Hole" has a sterling cast expertly directed by Daniel Sullivan. The revolving set by John Lee Beatty is extraordinary. The original music, becoming very common on Broadway and off, is by John Gromada. (Jason Robert Brown did the music for Lindsay-Abaire's "Kimberly Akimbo".)You can listen to an example of it on the theater's web site (www.mtc-nyc.org). It's very soothing.

I get the feeling "Rabbit Hole" will have a long life not only on Broadway but in regional theaters across the country. One reviewer stated, "I don't frequently advise people to pay good money to have their hearts broken, but trust me on this one". I concur.

"Rabbit Hole" has been extended through April 9.  For tickets, call Telecharge, 800-432-7250 or visit Telecharge.com.

My suggestion is to consider subscribing to the MTC. You can subscribe to four plays starting at $210! Besides "Rabbit Hole", you could see John Patrick Shanley's new play "Defiance", "Based on a Totally True Story" with Michael Tucker, and one more play. Call 212-445-7329.

The MTC offers Saturday matinee post-performance talkbacks with an actor from the production. Angela Pietropinto, a representative from the education dept.who led the discussion was asked by a teary-eyed patron, "Who taught Cynthia Nixon how to cry like a grieving mother?"  During an interview on the Tony Danza show on March 1, Nixon acknowledged she has a small child about the same age as Danny.  

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to John Gallagher, Jr. discuss the rehearsal process, working with the talented cast, and what it is like to work for director, Daniel Sullivan. He mentioned that the script was not changed much during the rehearsals and how it helped to have the playwright there at all times.

 MTC subscribers almost completely filled the orchestra for this event. I can understand why.

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