Rabbit Hole: Of Grief, Acceptance, and Hope
We all deal with pain differently. This topic is no longer new, but grieving and dealing with loss is something that most people veer away from in conversations. Why? Because it’s sad. Because it would feel awkward. Because loss, no matter how many years might have passed, will always be a pinch in someone’s heart. It takes a great deal of strength and willpower to divulge one’s self into the talk about grief, and this is exactly what Red Turnip has done: they took us to the great depths of loss and sadness, but they pulled us right back up, just in time before we lost it. Rabbit Hole is a beautiful story about finding yourself again when you have already given up on life as you know it.
Agot Isidro as Becca
Rabbit Hole revolves around the story of Becca (Agot Isidro) — a young mother who could not move on from the loss of her 4-year-old son, Danny. Eight months after the tragedy, Becca has already drowned in her own sorrow and everything else started to fall apart, as well. From her relationship with her husband, Howie (Michael Williams), to dealing with her day-to-day activities, Becca never saw anything normal in her life any longer. When you lose someone who means the world to you, how can you go back to the world where you feel empty and lonely?
Howie as portrayed by Michael Williams
Although the subject of the play is nothing but heavy, it was really refreshing that the script incorporated a light tone in some of the scenes. Izzy (Che Ramos-Cosio) is the comic relief in it all, with her punchlines executed perfectly and at the right moments. It was nice to hear laughter among the audience despite all the heartfelt grief that Becca emitted right from the start.
Che Ramos-Cosio as Izzy
Alongside Izzy, Nat (Sheila Francisco) is another bit of comic relief with her motherly remarks that hits home. She is the mom that everyone knows — sometimes tacky, sometimes insensitive, but nonetheless loving. In one way or another, we can all relate to Becca, having a mother who knows no boundaries when it comes to hitting their children in the face with the sad truth. Despite their differences, Nat and Becca are still a mother and daughter tandem wonderfully laid out in the play.
Becca’s Mother, Nat, portrayed by Sheila Francisco
Rabbit Hole is a straight play, produced in a very intimate setup. Straight plays, unlike most of what we usually see in theater, focus more on dialogue and words instead of the usual music and dance. It was the perfect way to execute such a story because the audience could really feel like they were part of the character’s world. The intimate setup was also a nice touch, making everything seem closer to the people who were watching. The actor’s performances were exquisite, and considering that the whole play only has 5 characters, the cast was definitely nothing but a powerhouse. Director Topper Fabregas, despite having this production as his first directing stint, has curated a play that will surely stay with the audience’s heart and soul.
Rabbit Hole will run for all the weekends of August at Whitespace Makati. If you don’t have any idea where that is, you may use GrabTaxi and get a refund of P150.00 when you get to their venue. Tickets are available at Ticketworld.
Red Turnip Theater’s
RABBIT HOLE
A play by David Lindsay-Abaire
Directed by Topper Fabregas
All weekends of August
(Friday 9PM; Saturday 8PM; Sunday 4PM)
Whitespace Makati
