Lightning Rod Special's 'Let the Dog See the Rabbit'

Vividly imagined and wisely crafted by director Mason Rosenthal, he shaped a quirky and clever theater piece that had his performers dancing, climbing, crawling, falling, stomping, and singing. A few of the performers are associated with Philadelphia’s Pig Iron Theatre Company, a group dedicated to creating exuberant works that defy easy categorization, and the influence of their untraditional delivery and physically nuanced interactions could be seen.

The Rotunda, with its circular main hall and oversized window, was the perfect cavity for Let the Dog See the Rabbit. Upon entering, you were swallowed by the cavernous space, which housed four traffic cones, velvet ropes and posts, an industrial vacuum cleaner, debris, and scaffolding. Five performers in hard hats were already sitting in the balcony, staring at the audience through binoculars. A musical cue beckoned them to stand and, in military formation, descend to the main floor. They activated the space by redistributing it, with taxidermy, shrubs, traffic cones, and velvet ropes.

The performers were well-rounded as they brought lizards and birds to life. They stepped and pecked, making birdlike sounds while remaining energetically animated. Their choreographed gestures were minimalistic and effective.

Open to surprise

The openness of the performance space allowed moments of surprises as the actors/dancers entered from various openings in the space. At one point, one of the oversized windows opened and a bucket was hurled into the space. A performer climbed in on all fours, in an apelike manner. Another actor who was already in the space started taking pictures of the “ape,” who escaped through the window. The photographer followed him but fell out of the window in a humorous display.

From museum floor to an underwater aquarium housing jellyfish, the Rotunda served many purposes. While Let the Dog See the Rabbit was random at times, the nonlinear structure made the audience work to connect, interpret, and appreciate Rosenthal’s world, keeping them engaged.