A Review of Rabbit Hole, a play by Pangdemonium
By Angela Low and Sharmaine Chan
A play adapted from David Lindsay-Abaire, Rabbit Hole revolves around how a family copes with the loss of a child. Bringing the characters to life, Pangdemonium’s delivery in trying to reach out to the audience the amount of grief a family suffers whilst coping could not have been more heartbreaking.
Becca (Janice Koh) and Howie (Adrian Pang) have lost their 4-year-old son, Danny, in a car accident and eight months down the road, still tries to find various coping mechanisms to fill the void in their hearts whilst trying to keep their relationship alive. Pangdemonium’s version of Rabbit Hole has proved just why we should support our local productions more. Albeit set in a very small stage with little room to work with, they managed to transform it into a cozy little setting, and once you have seated down, makes you feel right at home. The actors were nothing short of spectacular, making you for a second doubt that you are actually watching nothing but a play.
While Pang and Koh edges audiences close to triggering the waterworks with their gravely emotional characters, Seong Hui Xuan lightens it up with the comically forward and wild role of Izzy, Becca’s pregnant sister. Playing Becca’s undiplomatic mom, Nat, is theatre veteran Lok Meng Chue. Despite having a wealth of experience under her belt, her shaky American accent caused her an inconsistent performance.
Altogether, armed with a fantastic script and a stunning cast, director Tracie Pang successfully produced a completely believable story of family and loss. With a realistic balance of misery and hope, Rabbit Hole dodged the risk of being excessively dramatic and as off-putting as a soap opera. It is an uphill battle getting through each day in the aftermath of a tragedy but there’s always light after the dark. Pangdemonium’s Rabbit Hole will show you how with a bit of wine, a handful of tissue paper and a dysfunctional family of four.
