When coping with loss, people tend to deal with it in different ways.

This is the premise of Rabbit Hole.

The story revolves around Becca, played by Kelsey Amann, senior theatre major. Becca witnessed the death of her first and only child who was hit by an automobile driven by Jason, played by Kyle Maloney, senior theatre major. The people in her life believe that she is not dealing with the death in a healthy manner.

“It’s a story about grief and how people grieve differently at different rates,” said Brenda Jackson, instructor of theatre. “It’s a family that has lost a child and they are just trying to cope as much as they can-as best they can-with the situation.”

In Rabbit Hole, Jason tries for eight months to contact the family of Danny, the child he ran over. He succeeds. “It kind of leaves everybody frazzled and distraught,” Maloney said. “He’s seeking a small catharsis for himself.”

Howie, played by Matt Campbell, junior theatre major, is irritated by Jason’s arrival.

He also is pushing Becca to deal with Danny’s death in a different way because he feels his way is better. “He’s trying to deal with it the best he can and doesn’t feel that (Becca and he) are going through the same experience together,” Campbell said.

Nat, played by Jackson, feels the same as Howie. “My main concern in this story is my daughter (Becca) who is not dealing with this,” Jackson said. “She has rejected help and comfort from every corner. She’s turned away from God, turned away from support groups, turned away from her husband. She is not letting herself get over this at all.”

There is also Becca’s sister, Izzy, played by Ashley Trotnic, junior theatre major. “Izzy is a complete mess up,” Trotnic said, “but her relationship with her sister grows and she becomes a more responsible person.”

“My character is Becca,” Amann said. “I am a mother, a wife, a daughter and a sister. In the blink of an eye, by son was playing with a dog in the street and next moment he was hit by a car. Through the story my relationship grows with my family.”

Rabbit Hole will be performed at 7:30 p.m. from Oct. 13-17 in the Bud Walton Theatre. Viewers must be 17 or older to attend. Admission is free with student identification.