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| Patricia Zentilli and Genevieve Steele, both graduates of Dal's acting program, play sisters in Neptune Theatre's production of Rabbit Hole. (Scott Munn Photo) |
The laughter took them all by surprise. After all, Rabbit Hole鈥攃entered on the impact of the accidental death of a small child by a teenage driver鈥攊sn鈥檛 exactly hilarious. In fact, a New York Times review of the Broadway production recommended bringing a life jacket because of the copious weeping it inspired.
鈥淚t totally shocked me (to hear laughing),鈥� says Susan Stackhouse, the AV俱乐部 professor who plays the grandmother Nat in the Neptune Theatre production. 鈥淚 was completely oblivious that this could happen. Really, there is more laughter than tears.鈥�
As improbably funny as it is heartbreaking, Rabbit Hole is a riveting portrait of a family struggling with grief and loss. It is considered playwright David Lindsay-Abaire鈥檚 break through, first produced on Broadway in 2006 to rave reviews and earning him a Pulitzer Prize in 2007.
As a new father of a baby boy, Mr. Lindsay-Abaire鈥攌nown more for absurdist comedies than realistic dramas鈥攚as determined to stretch himself by writing about what he feared the most. As he explained in an interview, 鈥淚 guess the real impulse was my fear of what could happen to this person I love more than anyone else in the world.鈥�
The play is written with poignant humor and finely observed detail, says Prof. Stackhouse, a voice and speech specialist and associate professor in the Department of Theatre.聽鈥淚t鈥檚 so honest and real,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t lifts you up but you don鈥檛 even realize it鈥攖hat鈥檚 its power.鈥�
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| Susan Stackhouse and Patricia Zentilli in Rabbit Hole. (Scott Munn photo) |
Currently on sabbatical, Prof. Stackhouse is using the time away from the classroom to reconnect with the stage. Getting the role entailed taking part in general auditions, which she hasn鈥檛 done in years, and memorizing her lines, something that used to come much more easily.
鈥淎uditioning, just that experience in itself, is so valuable to take back in the classroom. It shows I鈥檓 not just a talking head.鈥�
Two former Dal acting students, Genevieve Steele and Patricia Zentilli, play her daughters in the play. 鈥淚 do love that, working with students in a professional capacity once they graduate. It鈥檚 very exciting.鈥�
Rabbit Hole continues on Neptune鈥檚 main stage until Sunday, March 28. Showtimes: March 24, 25, 26 at 8 p.m.; March 27, 4 and 8:30 p.m.; March 28, 2 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $40. For info, call the box office at 429-7070.