Rabbit Hole Receives Strong Accolades from Theatre Reviewers

Director Joanna Henry and the cast of Rabbit Hole - Andy Izquierdo, Karen Jadlos Shotts, Rebecca Lenehan, Collin Chute and Rebecca Phillips - delivered a compelling and touching performance during opening weekend. And, early reviews agreed.

Joe Adcock of Show Biz Radio wrote, “The company’s current production is a nicely calibrated, skillfully acted, effectively staged Rabbit Hole. The play is in no way simple or easy. But director Joanna Henry manages to balance the many dark elements — sorrow, anger, blame, guilt, depression, despair — with startling whiffs of comic oxygen. Her designers provide a versatile single setting, offering opportunities for multi-character coffee klatches, one-on-one living room confrontations and a bedroom for isolation or contemplation. And the actors — for the most part, anyway — manage to shade what could be simple, one-quality sketch characters into strikingly colorful dramatic portraits.” (Full  Show Biz Radio review available online, http://www.showbizradio.net/2011/09/11/review-lta-rabbit-hole/.)

According to Joel Markowitz of MD Theatre Guide, "This drama is centered around a tragedy, and depicts how the aftermath affects the emotions and relationships in this family. While most definitely not lighthearted fare, it is extremely real and does involve quite a bit of reviving humor. The performances are terrific and the actors all show excellent range. The direction is also fantastic, and effectively walks the fine line of keeping the play from becoming too somber, while never losing respect for the situation. Rabbit Hole is definitely a worthy night of theatre." (Full MD Theatre Guide review available online, http://mdtheatreguide.com/2011/09/rabbit-hole-at-the-little-theatre-of-alexandria/)

And Rich Massabny, Arlington Weekly News TV (Comcast Channel 69) said: “The Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA) has a powerful five-person drama, Rabbit Hole written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by Joanna Henry. I never saw the movie with Nicole Kidman, but I’m darn satisfied with this production on LTA’s stage. The story centers around the recent death of a couple’s four year old son who was accidentally hit by a car. Karen Jadlos Shotts (Becca) and Andy Izquierdo (Howie) are the conflicted, recovering parents. Rebecca Phillips (Izzy) is Becca’s sister and Rebecca Lenehan, their mother. People warned me that Rabbit Hole would be a downer and depressing, however, it wasn’t. As Shotts puts it, “It’s about moving on.” It’s not sad at all and the cast is first-class. A word about Collin Chute who plays the young man, Jason, who was driving the car that killed the four year old boy, He’s someone to watch."  

A Talk-Back night moderated by Alix Spiegel of National Public Radio with Rabbit Hole director and cast and guest psychologist Dr. Robin Haight will be held Friday, September 16  at 10pm, immediately following the Rabbit Hole performance. Talk-Back event is free and open to the general public.

Rabbit Hole runs through October 1, 2011. For ticket purchase, visit www.thelittletheatre.com.