Review: WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT is an Exercise in Manipulation

WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT has been called a play. This experiment in audience participation is an experience that has become a global sensation that no one is allowed to talk about. The award-winning playwright, Nassim Soleimanpour, is Iranian. While he himself has been censored in his homeland, this work has escaped his country and thus has escaped censorship and is always presented without a set or director. Each actor (it is a different actor each night, and each actor can only perform it once) opens and performs the script, following Soleimanpour's instructions, before the audience that evening. They experience it right along with the audience for the first time. WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT is a unique experience that is different each night and is unlike anything you've experienced before

It is hard to review a show that you're not allowed to talk about, but the show (I wouldn't exactly call it a play, in the true sense of the word) does heavily involve the audience and asks them to take photos and send reviews to the playwright. The audience is given his email address during the beginning moments. Mostly, without giving too much a way, this experience is about manipulation of both the audience and of the actor. The playwright also tells a story, which is where the title comes from, about a relative who performed a social experiment on rabbits.

Ground Floor Theatre is the first to bring this work to Austin and is doing so with a cast of well known Austin actors and actresses. The performers include: Rebecca Havemeyer, Adolfo Aguilar (in Spanish), Zell Miller III, Alex Pedemonte (in Spanish), Fatima Garcia Checa (in Spanish), Lee Eddy, Kt Shorb, Michael Ferstenfeld, Alexandra Bassett (ASL interpreted), Rudy Ramirez, Marc Pouhé, Shannon Sedwick, Rodrigo M. Zaragoza (in Spanish), Owen Egerton, Veronica Pomata (in Spanish), and Karen Jambon. For more information as to date and time for each performer, please visit their website, listed below.

WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT by Nassim Soleimanpour
Running Time: Approximately One Hour, with no intermission

WHITE RABBIT RED RABBIT is produced by Ground Floor Theatre (979 Springdale Rd, Austin, TX, 78702)

Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays, March 15 - March 31, 2018 at 8 PM and Sundays at 5 PM. Some dates also have a 10 PM showing. Some performances are in Spanish, please check their website for which performances are in Spanish and their times.
All Ground Floor Theatre productions are pay what you wish (suggested price is $25); If you'd like to pay less than $5 email lisa@groundfloortheatre.org.
ASL INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE MARCH 23 - 8 PM
For more information, visit their website at groundfloortheatre.org

Reader Reviews

To post a comment, you must register and login.

Don't Miss a Austin News Story
Sign up for all the news on the Summer season, discounts & more...