Rabbit Hole

Richly deserving of its Pulitzer for Drama, Rabbit Hole shares thejourney of married couple Becca and Howie as they grieve over the accidental death of their four-year-old son, killed when he chased his pet dog in front of a car.

A sparse, poignant drama about grieving, it’s also rich in very human wit and ultimately opens the door to hope, evoking empathy, while eschewing the maudlin and melodramatic (the playwright provides three pages of precise instructions to ensure this).

At just two hours, with interval, across eight short scenes, it’s a wonderfully economic script where the actors’ subtext and actions are just as important as their lines, a richly satisfying play which empowers the audience, inviting us to enter its world, and leave the theatre with questions and alternate possibilities rather than clear-cut answers.

Any lover of contemporary drama should see a good production of this play; my introduction was delivered in fine style by Arts Theatre’s sensitive interpretation.

A strong community theatre cast performs with utter truth, complemented by James Bruce’s set, a totally credible representation of a suburban house, which serves the play beautifully.

Gretchen Mach, as the grieving mum, illuminates the richly scripted character arc of Becca beautifully, from dysfunctional beginnings, through a touching rapprochement with her mum Nat (Suzy Wilds), to a genuine sense that she is moving on.

Husband Howie’s grieving trajectory is totally out of kilter with Becca’s, creating a compelling dynamic. Apparently holding everything together initially, Howie begins crumbling just as Becca is making her first steps toward some kind of acceptance. Gavin Leahy’s perceptive interpretation of this second great character arc, and the volatile chemistry he shares with Gretchen Mach in their out-of-synch relationship, is capped off by a beautiful final scene; rich in subtext, they negotiate a tenuous path toward the realignment of their personal rhythms and relationship.

As Becca’s erratic sister Izzy, Angela Gibson delivers wonderful humour, where the laughs spring from believable relationships, situations and the contrast between the two sisters.

As Becca and Izzy’s mum Nat, Suzy Wilds delights in a tactless, tipsy scene early on, inadvertently opening all sorts of wounds, before a powerful and touching scene between mother and daughter in act two which I will remember for a long time.

Dylan Yates finds the teenage awkwardness of Jason, the young driver involved in the accidental tragedy.

Grieving is part of everyone’s life, so the appeal of Rabbit Hole is universal. This Arts Theatre Cronulla production, sensitively directed by Cheryl Butler, is a special night of community theatre.

Neil Litchfield

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