PICT Classic Theater’s second play of their 2018-2019 season is an original by Pittsburgh playwright, Ray Werner. Werner’s Run the Rabbit Path looks at a family facing the death of a loved one, and explores the nostalgia and resentment they have for their childhoods. In this past Friday evening’s preview of the production, Werner’s script translated to a moving theater experience, one with a relatable story and familiar characters.
Set in Pittsburgh, in a time not that long ago, Run the Rabbit Path centers on three siblings dealing with the untimely passing of their beloved Pop, played by James FitzGerald. Pop is seen and heard only by the audience, interjecting his thoughts on the events that play out on stage. Patty, played by Karen Baum, eldest sister and matriarch of the family, is overwhelmed with funeral arrangements and her two younger brothers’ constant bickering. Her brothers, played by Tony Bingham and Reed Allen Worth, argue about their childhoods, each feeling the other had it better. They feel nostalgic for their past, but it is clear they have carried some resentment into their adulthoods. Charlie (Worth) is bitter towards his father for not taking him hunting, and Tony (Bingham) envies the way Charlie and Pop were able to connect through words and music. The siblings work through their issues, and each comes to terms with their past, while learning more about each other and their father in the process.
It is fitting the play should be held in the Fred Rogers Studio, for not only does the show center around a Pittsburgh family, but the studio is a great place to explore themes of childhood and nostalgia. It is comforting to know that the space will still be used to tell out stories for years to come. The studio provides a small theater, which enhances this particular production. It makes you feel closer to the action, like you are sitting in this family’s home. You feel like a fly on the wall, silently watching the story unfold. The stage is set simply as a 50s/60s-esque style kitchen, with a few furnishings. It feels like your grandparents’ kitchen–homey and familiar.
The cast of Run the Rabbit Path is small but mighty. Each actor does their job effectively, and truly makes these characters come to life. What made me connect to the show was how familiar these characters seemed, like members of my own family. Bingham has a very strong presence on stage, but is able to show a gentler side in the quieter moments of the show. FitzGerald is charming and endearing as Pop, and Baum delivers just the right amount of sweetness and sassiness that made me root for her character. Worth, while not as strong in the more emotional parts of the play, succeeds in the lighthearted scenes. Towards the end of the play he has a minute alone on stage, and it is one of the more special moments of the show.
In the playbill, director Alan Stanford writes how the relationship between parents and children has always been a major topic of discussion for playwrights. In most cases they tend to focus on the harm parents cause their children. Werner, on the other hand, focuses more on the good parents do for their children, what they give them versus what they do not. Each character starts with a certain air of resentment for their childhood, yet as they discuss their past they think less about what they have lost, and realize what they’ve gained in its place. Their father gave each sibling something unique to them that shaped who they became as adults. This realization allows them to heal, and look toward the future. The play ends on a sentimental song about remembering where you’re from, the people who shaped your life, and the memories you have made along the way.
Run the Rabbit Path is a collaborative effort between cast, crew, and playwright in bringing this play to life. It shows you don’t need a big cast or a big stage; all you need is a compelling story and people to tell it.
Run the Rabbit Path plays at WQED’s Fred Rogers Studio through February 16th. For tickets and other info, check out PICT.
Jade Goodes is a graduate of Penn Sate University where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English. While attending Penn State she became the Managing Editor for the school’s literary & arts magazine, Absence. Jade has been involved with the Pittsburgh theater community since elementary school, and has performed in many productions over the years. In her free time she enjoys reading and attending all the concerts she can.
Categories: Archived Reviews