MANILA, Philippines - In the span of a year, Red Turnip Theater has made its mark in the Philippine theater scene. The five actors that make up Red Turnip (Ana Abad Santos, Topper Fabregas, Jenny Jamora, Cris Villonco and Rem Zamora) wanted to come up with a maiden season that would re-introduce Philippine audiences to the straight play while putting their own stamp on the theatrical experience. Their first production, Closer, was a bruising and honest take on modern day relationships and their follow-up, Cock, was a biting comedy about sexual identity. Both productions went on to acclaim with critics and audiences alike.
They kickstart their second season with the 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner, Rabbit Hole. Written by David Lindsay-Abaire, the story revolves around Becca and Howie, a couple who lose their four-year-old son to a car accident, and the grief that slowly threatens to tear them apart. Shifting between humor and heartbreak, Rabbit Hole explores the way people deal with loss and how this affects those closest to them — their families.
In Rabbit Hole, Agot Isidro makes a theatrical comeback as Becca. “I’m a little nervous about going back to theater because it has been seven years since my last production (Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah). But I am excited at the same time, because I know it will be a welcome and enriching break after years of TV work. I am especially on the edge about Rabbit Hole because this is my first straight play. With musicals, there’s a certain comfort in knowing that, at some parts, I burst into song. So a straight play is all new to me. But I am looking forward to the process,” Isidro says.
Joining Isidro is theater veteran Michael Williams as her husband Howie. Williams’ long list of credits includes starring roles in Jekyll and Hyde, Les Miserables and Man of La Mancha for Repertory Philippines. He currently stars in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for Resorts World Manila.
Che Ramos-Cosio (Tatlong Maria, Dogeaters) and Sheila Francisco (South Pacific, August Osage County) co-star as Becca’s sister Izzy and their mother Nat, respectively. Dulaang UP’s Ross Pesigan (Ang Nawalang Kapatid, Titus Andronicus) rounds out the eclectic cast as Jason, the young boy responsible for the tragic loss of their son.
Rabbit Hole director Topper Fabregas says, “Apart from it being a brilliant script, we Turnips also chose Rabbit Hole as our second season opener because we’re hungry to show a different side to us. Closer and Cock defined our first season as these fantastic, in-your-face experiences. Rabbit Hole takes the (deceptively) gentler approach but will knock you out just the same.”
In addition to Rabbit Hole, Red Turnip Theater will also show a re-run of Cock from Oct. 3 to 5, and Time Stands Still, a story of a photojournalist who is forced to return home from a war zone, by Donald Margulies in February 2015.
Rabbit Hole opens on Aug. 1 at Whitespace, 2314 Chino Roces Ave. Extension, Makati, and runs all weekends of August. Visit RedTurnipTheater on Facebook for complete show schedules.
Tickets are available through TicketWorld (891-9999 or www.ticketworld.com.ph) or redturniptheater@gmail.com.