Rabbit Hole Review

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:27pm

I think many of the people going to see the show, just want to see "Miranda". Cynthia Nixon gets an ovation as soon as she appears onstage. Nixon, Tyne Dayly and John Slattery give a Tony-worthy performance. The entire cast is amazing. But as a theatre-goer, I'd rather go to see plays that are a little more uplifting. Also The Rabbit Hole is a play that i absolutely couldn't relate to. But probably this play would be very touching to anyone who experienced a death in the family,or even worse, the death of a son. I found the play very sad. Not really my kind of entertainment, even though it had great acting. And to correct myself...i think i would tell anyone who has been through a death in the family recently to skip this play as well. It can be a very sad and painful experience to all of those. Very sad, SAD play, and very different from prior Lindsay-Abaire's plays such as "Fuddy Meers."

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:30pm

:head desk:

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:34pm

hit you head harder, you might wake up and be respectful!

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:39pm

Some people do go to the theatre to have their life experience broadened and challenged. And some people go to have what they already know validated for them. To each his own.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:43pm

First off, not everyone is going to see this play to see "Miranda." Cynthia Nixon was already an established Broadway stage actress LONG before "Sex and the City" started, so don't make that assumption.

If you only surround yourself with "uplifting" material and "non-musical" plays, you only have a one dimensional view of the theatre and might not want to post a review of the play since you know your view will be biased.

A play you couldn't relate to? Even if you haven't experienced the tragedy I'm sure someone in your life has. The play deals with life issues so they're immediately relatable on some level. I'm sure you've never been to Juhu Beach but you LOOOOOOVE BOMBAY DREAMS.

Why would people who've had a death in the family skip this play? If anything it serves as something they can :GASP: relate too! And maybe they'll realize that other people have gone through the pain. And maybe this play will touch them and help them realize that they are not alone.

Seriously. I have the right to disagree with what you say. And I have the right to voice my opinion. And, I'm sorry to say, but you're in an extreme minority and wrong on some levels. So, if I choose to correct you, I will.

Deal with it.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 3:02am

Foanatic:
You have all the rights in the world to disagree with me. But i do ask you to read my review well though. I said "many people" go to see the girl from Sex and the City and not "everyone" , I do not make assumptions. I do not surround myself with anything. I actually see more musicals than plays...YOu don't know me and you are making assumptions on what i see at the theatre?
I just said the play is very sad and you are right about the fact that some people might feel "not alone" by seeing this play. It is just what i felt. If i were in that situation probably i would have left the theatre crying and wanting to kill myself. Just my point of view. If you don't share it, there is no need to be rude.
PS= you are not god, you can't say what's wrong or right.

[NYC4Life]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 3:53am

I think most people just know how amazing she is. She is a really great actress with ALOT of credit other than sex and the city. Though you might not find something uplifting, it can be very uplifting to someone else. To watch something that has happened to you through someone else can help you realize things you cant from being in the situation. I think everyone should see this show. It shows great inside to someone who has not been through this and can show many people how awful this can be for someone. Very moving and very real. Outstanding cast and brillant Cynthia Nixon has done it again! I have only seen her take characters to a new level.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 7:38am

I went to the matinee yesterday, and I'm not sure how I felt about it when the show first ended. I at least thought about it during my train ride back to DC. Yes, the performances were good, but somehow I felt a little let down by the writing and how things were wrapped up by the end. I don't know if it was the writing, direction, or performance itself, but I found no connection to the actor playing Jason (the high school student).

Overall, I'm glad I saw this play as I usually only see musicals. It is important to expand ones horizons, which is another reason I went to see this play. It was wonderful to be a part of an audience that was extremely quiet and attentive to the actors on stage.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 11:54am

Yes, same here. I see mostly musicals. But i think Cynthia is amazing and i wanted to see her in this. I didn't have a chance to see her in "The Women" so i really wanted to see this actress onstage. Anyhow, it is true...and i do think the play was good. I just wouldn't recommend it. I certainly hope the play helps people to cope with their own problems...and even though the play was very sad, it gives a positive outlook and hope at the end. But i still felt very sad when i went to my hotel room, and that is not the way i wanna feel after seeing a play. Just my opinion. I also didn't feel a connection to the actor who played Jason.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 12:11pm

Oh god forbid...people "feel". Ugh! FOA Im with you 100%

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 4:29pm

i love to feel emotions, i cried after Barefoot and after WIW this weekend...but it was crying becuz i was touched and not all coming from pain. That is everything. I am not saying the show is bad or anything, just telling my point of view, not a competition or to see who is wrong or right.

[gustof777]

Posted: 2/20/06 at 5:53pm

while I totally respect ur opinion...did you have any idea what the play was about before you went? If your a member of this board and have been reading these reviews they tell you that this play is unlike anything Abaire has wrote so walking in expecting something like Fuddy Meers is kinda silly. I like the idea that DLA can write in various different styles and leaving w/ an open ending is a sort of trade mark of his...all of his plays have (and many of you may disagree w/ me on this)but a deep root in reality. Though the situations are very chaotic and crazy...the people are almost uncomfortably real and in REAL life you don't always get a happy ending...now in my opinion art should be a reflection and make you think and feel and Rabbit Hole most certainly delivers there. Not every show you go see is going to have you walking out and feeling wonderful and soo happy...some you walk out and think wow...i can't believe what i just saw...now i can even more empathize with a family in that situation. When I saw the play I thought even more about greif and how I deal w/ tragedy. A play that makes u think is something that i think should be applauded and i'm happy that ur acknowledging that the play is well acted but the idea that the play should be this happy go lucky, we all go home happy play is just ridiculous and it's not a musical and plays and musicals are very different....just my opinion...hope you at least sort of enjoyed the show

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/21/06 at 3:15am

Gust, you are totally right, and yes i knew what the show was about, and i was expecting something very sad. I guess maybe i was very sad when i went home and it was because the good acting actually got to me. John Slattery i think was the best actor in the show. While John Gallagher Jr. the weakest.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/26/06 at 9:08pm

What on earth would make you cry after BAREFOOT IN THE PARK?

Saw RABBIT HOLE this afternoon - loved every second of it, but the evening belongs to Ms. Nixon - she is absolutely wonderful and amazing in this role. Tyne Daley was fantastic as well - what an honor to see her perform live. I wasn't all that crazy with John Gallagher Jr.'s characterization - at times I wondered if he had some mental deficiency, and John Slattery was on and off. In some scenes he was extremely powerful, and in others he seemed to be disconnected from the action.

I cannot rave enough about Nixon's performance - hopefully she'll fare well this June, along with Daley. I truly loved the play as well - finally, MTC at the Biltmore has something substantial to offer its audience.

Think it has any chance at the Pulitzer?

[Smaxie]

Posted: 2/26/06 at 10:51pm

Problem with the Pulitzers is that they are moving to a calendar year format, starting with this year. (Previously, they were awarded from March to March). The 2006 winner will be for shows that had a production from March-December, 2005. The 2007 winner will be for shows that opened between January-December, 2006, so Rabbit Hole is not eligible until the '07 Pulitzers.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 2/26/06 at 10:54pm

how is the rush for this show...anyone try it yet?

i'd like to see it.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:49am

Not sure...tickets are selling well, and today's performance was sold out.

You can always sign up to usher...

[BSoBW3]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 1:30am

Well, at least your money went to the show. Uplifting or not.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 1:48am

I've seen it twice, both with rush, but both during previews, after which it really started to sell. But they're pretty good about setting a few seats aside for rush at every performance. Just get to the box office like 30 minutes before it opens and you'll get tickets.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 1:52am

By the way, I just want to agree about how great both Ms. Nixon and Ms. Daly were. Something that these two actresses have always had in common for me is that they're very good at playing full, real, fleshed out roles. They always make their characters very relatable and accessible, and this play is a great example for them both. Brava to both actresses and I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for them this spring.

Updated On: 2/27/06 at 01:52 AM

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 9:22am

It seems as thought it was sold out the entire weekend. I tried for rush for Sat eve - and it was sold out as well. A cancelation line and folks clamoring and scalping to get in outside. Im soooo happy for this play. I loved it early on in previews and I must see it again. I hope it has a longer life, beyond the Biltmore. Transfer, Transfer, Transfer...

Munk - I actually agree with you 100% - Nixon & Daly are beyond words here. And how about that set? John Lee Beatty finally winning his own Tony Award already? Hope so! Not to mention Nixon & Daly. Such a solid production & to that - so is DEFIANCE at MTC's Stage I space. Good for them. Not to mention Roundabout has PAJAMA GAME & ENTERTAINING MR SLOAN - both with good word of mouth. Yay for the Non-for-profits finally making a rebound after a lackluster fall season on both of their parts.

[jsrocks]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 12:14pm

I'm going to see Rabbit Hole on March 18 at the 2pm showing. Does anyone know what time the actors usually arrive at the theatre? :) Thanks!

Updated On: 2/27/06 at 12:14 PM

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 4:33pm

Isn't 2pm call 12:30pm? I can't confirm, but I'd assume.

[jsrocks]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 7:17pm

Thanks! :)

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/27/06 at 7:21pm

if you are a John Slattery fan...you are going to love his performance.