“Rabbit Hole” open in Peterson Black Box

“Rabbit Hole,” the 2007-Pulitzer-Prize-winning drama by David Lyndsay-Abaire opens Feb. 18 for a two-weekend run in USU Eastern’s Peterson Black Box Theatre in the Central Instructional Building. It is directed by Corey Ewan, Ph.D., with the set designed by Brent Innes.
“Rabbit Hole” tells the story of Howie and Becca Corbett, a young couple coming to terms with the death of their 4-year-old son. The story picks up eight months after the accident as they are confronted with family situations and a grieving teen working to come to terms with the accident. It takes place almost entirely in one house with everyday conversations peppered with occasional references to real people (John F. Kennedy and Matt Lauer).
Although the subject matter is serious, there is humor interspersed throughout. “This particular play has been on my radar for years and this was the year felt right to direct it,” Ewan said.
“I am very excited to begin work on this piece and with this cast,” he added.
The cast includes two Price natives: Tavery Larsen, who places Nat, Becca and Izzy’s mother, an opinionated alcoholic with a knack for sticking her foot in her mouth and Tristan Smith, who plays Jason, the awkward and nerdy 17 year old who accidently killed Becca and Howie’s son when the little boy ran in front of his car.
Larsen said her favorite scene is the birthday party and says the production is a brilliant mix of drama and comedy. Smith’s favorite line is “your mother is making him fat” and agrees that the production is also funny, but a different kind of production.
Cameron West hails from Juab High School and plays Howie, Becca’s husband, a patient man who specializes in pretending everything is fine. His favorite scene is the last because it feels real as if he was living his character’s life.
From Logan, Utah, is Whitney Humphries, who graduated from Mountain Crest High School and plays Becca, Howie’s wife. She is the grieving mother in her late 30s or early 40s. She is tough and uncompromising, and cannot tolerate insincerity or impracticality. Humphrey’s favorite scene is where Becca explains to her husband that he isn’t in a better place than she because people grieve differently and are easily misunderstood.
Victoria Tita, a graduate of Maple Mountain High School in Spanish Fork, plays Izzy, Becca’s younger sister. A perennial party girl who never grew up, Izzy is still trying to find herself. Tita likes the scenes where the people are tip toeing around each other to spare each other’s feelings. “It’s real.”
This is a great group of actors and they are ready to jump into the deep end of the pool with this production. “Rabbit Hole” contains mature themes and language.
“If I were to assign a movie rating, I would give it a PG-13. I know some people need that to determine quality,” Ewan said. “Anyone who has experienced loss and grief will be readily able, I think, to identify with the thoughts and feelings expressed in this play.
“Rabbit Hole” opens Feb. 18 and continues the 19 and 20 with a matinee at 2 p.m. on the 20. It also runs Feb. 25-27. Curtain times are 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale at 6:30 p.m. at the Peterson Theatre each night.
USUE students are $1 with current ID, faculty and staff $5. Regular admission is $10 for adults, $5 for non-USUE students and $7 for senior citizens.
“This is an exceptional piece of theatre and one truly not to be missed,” Ewan said.