“Rabbit Hole,” a drama written by playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, kicks off the Pepperdine Theatre Department this year as its season opener. The production is directed by Jason Chanos, associate professor of Theater, and co-directed by Pepperdine student Jillian Dobbins.
“Rabbit Hole” is the story of a couple’s struggle after losing their 4-year-old son in a tragic accident. The setting is eight months after the accident, so instead of dealing with the immediate grief of the situation, the play is about acceptance of the past and the fact that despite tragic events, life ensues.
“It’s a simple play, but very difficult in its execution,” said senior Drake Schaneberg, who portrays Howie, the male lead. “One has to be careful to approach it with delicacy and care.”
The director, Jason Chanos, is grateful to be able to direct a production that, in his words, “sheds all the typical aspects of theater.”
“It’s very easy to overlook truth when you’re working with a farce,” Chanos continued. “This type of play is more realistic, and just boils it down to people being real people.”
The cast of “Rabbit Hole” is supplemented by the presence of Cathy Thomas-Grant, assistant professor of theater at Pepperdine, who plays Nat in the production.
“I thought it was time that I worked once again with my students as an actor rather than just a director,” Thomas-Grant said. “Each time I do this I am more and more appreciative and respectful of how hard they work, and the passion they have for theater is nothing short of inspiring.”
Chanos is extremely appreciative of Thomas-Grant’s presence in the production.
“She has elevated the production quite a bit just by being there and always being prepared and in the moment,” Chanos said.
Chanos chose to direct “Rabbit Hole” not for reasons that one might expect.
“We only had about 26 days to put on a full production, so I needed a play that would be good for the department and could be put on well within a short amount of time.” Chanos said. “It has an amazing script, and I knew it would be life changing for anyone who worked on it.”
Charlotte Ubben, who plays Becca, the female lead, was drawn to this particular story and her character specifically because of how relatable grief is portrayed as being.
“I usually play comedic roles, so the role has been a huge challenge for me,” Ubben admitted. “Becca can be hard to like at times because she takes her feelings out on other people, but my hope is that people watch this show and see that her actions are a product of love and hurt and will feel for her like I do.”
Schaneberg has similar sentiments about his character.
“He is such a great guy, but he is dealing with his grief in a way that is just different from Becca’s,” Schaneberg said. “I hope to let people see the truth that grief lives differently in everyone.”
“Rabbit Hole” has won countless awards, most notably the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for drama and a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play. Chanos’ goal in directing this play was to select a manageable work of extremely high quality.
“I want the audience to just be watching people have a conversation with each other,” Chanos said. “The bottom line is the challenge to find the truth of every moment, and to draw on other aspects of life experiences in order to blow on it like an ember.”
Schaneberg agrees that a work like this can often be underappreciated.
“It’s easily overacted, and that is not what David Lindsay-Abaire had in mind when he wrote the play,” Schaneberg said. “I’m just interested in telling the story.”
“Rabbit Hole” is performing in Lindhurst Theatre, Pepperdine’s small black box theater, which creates an easier platform for the audience to feel as though they are experiencing a conversation instead of being detached bystanders. Pepperdine’s opening production will impress audiences with its raw honesty and relatability.
