“Rabbit Hole” – 8/10

“Rabbit Hole,” a production put on by NIU’s School of Theatre and Dance, is a slice of theater at its finest. Written by 2007 Pulitzer Prize winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire, the play was a great production from the start which included a cast of five talented M.F.A. and B.F.A. actors.

As the audience sat in wonder of all the hard work that went into the set design, all preconceived feelings were checked at the door. The set was bi-level. The first included a realistic depiction of walking into a kitchen which included tiled flooring and a living room.

The second level, a detailed portrayal of a child’s room, seduced the viewers’ eyes into believing the audience was really inside the next door neighbor’s house. From magnets on the fridge to portraits on the wall, the set was breathtaking and created a sense of urgency for the play to begin.

When the play opened, the actors did not disappoint. From the moment Izzy (Alexandria Frenkel) and Becca (Karen Wennstrom) hit the stage, their high energy roped the audience in as the two exchanged delightful banter about Izzy’s previous night out. Without microphones, the two actors projected their voices with precision as their lines flowed like water.

Neil Brookshire appeared next on stage and proved that he was not to be outdone. With a rich voice and expressive movement, he played his role as Howie exquisitely. As Howie and Becca move through the scenes dealing with the death of their four-year-old son, the audience no longer feels like there are actors onstage but instead feel as if they are witnessing reality.

When Nat (Julie Fogh) entered the stage, it was her outfit that showcased the talent of costume design. Fogh played a past middle-age mother, and this character came to life through the warm brown tones of her sweater, the dark khaki slacks and a pair of brown tinted glasses. Fogh used her voice to create the perfect motherly tones and kept the audience believing she was a cute and caring mother.

Opening the second act with a heart-touching monologue, Jason (Brian William Sheppard) proves that his time spent with the European Live Arts Network did not go to waste.

As Sheppard’s character showed up at the house of Becca and Howie, the play hit its intensity peak. Every audience member seemed to be leaning forward to see if Howie would hit Jason in a very emotional part of the play.

The only downside to “Rabbit Hole” is a few slow-moving moments; however, no one can deny that the performances were absolutely sensational. With opportunities left to see the talent on the NIU Player’s Theatre stage, get up and go.

Filled with the intensity of coping with death, “Rabbit Hole” is one production that should not be overlooked.