Langhorne Players’ ‘Rabbit Hole’ Digs Deep

If you've ever given or gratefully received platitudes such as "it's God's plan," "God must've needed another angel in heaven" or "he's in a better place now" you may not fully appreciate Becca's pain in "," the David Lindsay-Abaire play produced by Langhorne Players and running through Sept. 3 at Spring Garden Mill in Tyler State Park.

Highly practical, non-sentimental Becca suffers loss just as strongly as those who mourn in more traditional forms, but others don’t necessarily see it. She methodically folds clothes readying them for charity, clothes once worn by Danny, her young son who ran out in front of a car eight months ago.

Becca is portrayed with heroic restraint by Kyla Mostello Donnelly of Levittown. Donnelly plays Becca’s pain as an implosion of sorts. While other reviews might mention that Becca once worked at Sotheby’s, quitting to be a full-time mom and now must reexamine her status, Donnelly digs much deeper than such a superficial concern. Her Becca struggles to survive an inner battle of despair with no outlet, no source of comfort.

Her husband, Howie, needs to share his grief, even wallow in it at times – watching a videotape of everyday interactions with his son and their dog with as much stealth as some men might practice for viewing porn. Philadelphian Aaron Wexler makes Howie a loveable character, his torment palpable when he aches to find comfort in his wife’s arms, the embrace of his home, the warmth of his dog, the memories of his son. Wexler brings poignancy to these foiled opportunities for consolation.

Oddly enough, it’s Becca’s wild-child sister, Izzy, who transforms from barroom brawler to voice of reason. Julia Wise of Huntingdon Valley is both animated and relaxed as the mercurial Izzy who always speaks truth – that is after the tall tale with which she opens the play. She accepts everyone’s way of mourning, while pointing out their contradictions without judgment: Stop making a dessert for your dead son. Sure I need baby clothes, but it’s not right for you to see Danny’s clothes walking around without Danny. You don’t think I’m capable of being a good mother, but you keep trying to pour wine into my juice glass. Go ahead and take a friend to lunch, but don’t you dare have an affair on my sister. Hey, people, this is my birthday – stop fighting!

Wise makes you love Izzy, even if she starts out as a loser, pregnant by another loser who was living with another woman. Izzy’s strength is most apparent when others have none.  

It is Ambler’s Linda Palmarozza as Becca and Izzy’s mother, Nat, who provides plenty of humor. Palmarozza takes care with Nat’s lack of finesse, ensuring it never gets slap-stick. Her Nat cuts to the core with concern, at times inappropriate and other times right on target.

Director Robert Norman facilitates his actors finding the right balance for each of these memorable characters.

If you manage to restrain from crying until then, you will succumb when Tim Schumann of Warrington, as 17-year-old Jason who accidentally killed little Danny, reads a letter to Becca and Howie.  

When Nat, while helping Becca to clear Danny’s room, clutches tiny shoes to her chest, you may just lose it. Becca will have none of that, “Don’t. Quick and clean, like a Band-Aid.” She may not cry, but you will.

Yes, expect to cry. Sob, even. But far from morose, “Rabbit Hole” is a study of family and forgiveness – a look at how to move on with life, how to find comfort in the alternate universe you had no intention of entering.

Rabbit Hole continues Aug. 25, 26, 27, 28 and 31 and Sept. 1, 2 and 3 at Spring Garden Mill in Tyler State Park, 1440 Newtown-Richboro Road. Curtain times are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $12-$14. For additional information, visit www.langhorneplayers.org or call (215) 860-0818.