Grief has many faces and they have come to life in Curtain Call Theatre’s regional premiere of ‘Rabbit Hole,’ a story of a middle-class couple who are mourning the loss of their son, Danny. In its last week, the play will run Wednesday and Thursday, April 4 and 5 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday, April 6 and 7, at 8 p.m. at the theater located at 210 Old Loudon Road in Latham.
According to theater owner and actress, Carol Max, ‘Rabbit Hole’ is an up-close-and-personal look at a family going through grief. Nothing seems out of place when the play begins; however, reminders of young Danny emerge. Becca, played by Max, and Howie, played by Steve Fletcher, try to move beyond their deep sense of loss in their own ways.
It’s a play about normal people going through abnormal things, said Max. In fact, Max said that many people who have seen the play have been in the same situation.
`Some said it was cathartic. Some said it was difficult,` Max added.
Though the play may sound depressing, Max said that ‘Rabbit Hole’ is a moving play that has affected patrons deeply.
`We have received more letters, e-mails, and personal calls than any other production we have done in seven years,` said Max.
Fletcher, who has been the theatre’s resident director for several years, stepped out from behind the scenes to play Howie and said that it was both terrifying and exhilarating.
`It was terrifying. I hadn’t acted in nine years,` Fletcher said. `I really had to refine the process. However, I have enjoyed every moment of it.`
Fletcher said that Howie’s outbursts have been challenging, but that he has aimed to improve with each performance.
`You really have to put your mind right,` Fletcher said. `I try to be the best artist I can with each performance.`
Max said that she was very moved after seeing ‘Rabbit Hole’ on Broadway a year ago and thought that the part of Becca suited her well. The theater applied for the rights to do the play for the first time in the region and, according to Max, is only the eighth theatre in the country to be given rights.
Though ‘Rabbit Hole’ is rated R, Max said that is because of strong language that occurs about two to three times in the play.
`There’s really no adult content,` she said. `However, it isn’t really a play for children unless the family is into the theatre,` Max said.
Tickets for the Rabbit Hole are $20 per person and reservations can be made through the Curtain Call Theatre box office by calling 877-7529. All seating is general admission. Information is also available at the Web site, www.curtaincalltheatre.com.“