In the coming weeks, five M-CHS actors will take a more serious tone when they hit the stage to perform David Lindsay-Abaire’s Pullitzer Prize winning drama, “Rabbit Hole.”
Set in the modern day, Lindsay-Abaire’s drama focuses on a four-member family that loses a young child in a horrific car accident. Struggling to deal with the loss, family members navigate the grieving process in vastly different ways.
“Rabbit Hole is a more mature play than what we’ve done before,” said junior David Gonzalez-Overton. “It’s a very serious drama that examines the experiences of a typical family that gets hit with a catastrophic disaster.”
Among the five characters in the play is Howie Corbett, a middle-aged father in his late 30s, who is played by Gonzalez-Overton. A serious man, Howie experiences anger and depression, yet tries to put on a good face.
“Howie is a middle-aged man, and he is very mature,” said Gonzalez-Overton. “I’m the least mature person that I’ve ever met. It has been kind of hard to stay serious.”
Also playing a lead role in “Rabbit Hole” will be senior Kaylee Brinkerhoff, who plays Howie’s wife, Becca Corbett. A responsible and sensible person, Becca’s grief causes her to make uncharacteristically rash decisions.
Other actors in the five-character play are Kyle Miller, Madison Nielson and Amy Campbell. Anakay Hanold will serve as stage manager, and Xavier Eddy and Erica Cudkowicz will act as assistant stage managers for the small cast.
“I really enjoy the smaller cast because I feel like there is more intimacy (between cast members),” said Brinkerhoff. “Being able to experience a smaller cast makes handling big casts so much easier.”
“Rabbit Hole” will take place in a five-room set that includes a living room, dining room, kitchen and upstairs bedroom. While the set will be simple, themes promise to be complex.
“I saw this play performed by Durango High School five years ago,” said M-CHS Drama Department director Nicholous Sandner. “I liked how it was dramatic, compelling and ended on an optimistic note. We were looking for a play that could really challenge our upperclassmen and this seemed like a good candidate.”
“Rabbit Hole” will take place at Montezuma-Cortez High School Jan. 23-24 and Jan. 30-31 at 7 p.m. The play will also be staged on Jan. 24 and Jan. 31 at 2 p.m. Admission costs are $8 for adults and $5 for children and seniors.