My journey to experience The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits began with a small sweet-treat at Magnolia Bakery. Stopping in for a treat, I picked up a really delicious vanilla cupcake and ordered a venti iced chai latte to keep me going. This was my first time ever at the Macaulay building and I was definitely looking forward to seeing it for the first time. The Macaulay Honors sign in front of the brownstone was definitely instagram/picture-worthy. Also, being in the only physical building designated for specifically Macaulay students was extremely exciting. With my cupcake and Starbucks drink in hand, I felt ready to dive into what I’d heard was a unique and captivating play reading.
The Woman Who Gave Birth to Rabbits, written by Stephen Gracia, was intriguing from the start, but my appreciation for it deepened as I learned more about the people behind the production. At first, I was a little skeptical about the premise of the play. Why rabbits? What specific meaning did they play? I knew that the rabbits had to have a specific significance as opposed to other animals. Knowing more about Gracia’s background, his interest in blending historical oddities with social issues, added layers to my understanding of the play’s complex narrative and heightened my appreciation for his work.
Additionally, the actors’ commitment to their characters was striking. Learning about their backgrounds, techniques, and motivations brought a fresh perspective to their performances, allowing me to appreciate the nuances in their portrayals. The way they embodied their characters’ emotions, especially in such an unconventional story, gave life to the oddities and quirks within the play. Hearing career tips and advice from the actors as well was also extremely inspiring. It was so interesting to learn about their “day jobs” outside of pursuing the arts and how they incorporate acting/the arts in their everyday lives.
All in all, I was extremely impressed with my experience in the city and this was yet again another experience that opened my eyes to how art is made and what truly classifies as art. The play reading represented how much the meaning of art changes once the viewer themselves gain sufficient enough background context. In this scenario, I definitely appreciated the play much more when I met face-to-face with the writer themselves and heard his approach and personal stories.
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