On Friday, October 5th, the touring DIY Theater troupe Eternal Cult will present Rabbit: an Original Rabbit Tragedy at the Haven. Eternal Cult, based in Minneapolis, are just one of dozens of DIY theater organizations that have sprung up across the country in recent years, putting on self-penned plays with hand-made sets and costumes, touring the country in a way that’s cheap, accessible, and highly entertaining.
The play will also mark the return of former Charlottesville artist Patrick Costello. Although locally beloved for his visual art, Costello has found a second career in theater since he departed Charlottesville this spring, and has spent the past several months traveling the country with various theatrical outfits, in-between short-term artist residencies. Rabbit will be Charlottesville’s first chance to check out Costello’s newly-sharpened acting chops.
“It’s a good play, and I’m excited about bringing it to Charlottesville,” Costello says. “I love being on tour, I could tour forever. Or at least until I run out of money. But I’m still doing [visual art] too – I have a show coming up in Chicago soon.”
The play begins at 8pm at the Haven, and they ask for a suggested donation of $5-$10. According to Eternal Cult, “Rabbit follows a modern tragic hero, a cottontail rabbit named Jonathan, as he struggles against a run of very bad luck.” Costello adds: “It is funny, well written, and of course, it is sad… Kids will probably like it, but there is some cussing.”