For sale: a bunny rabbit with a backstory by Neil LaBute
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
That’s not your average bunny rabbit candle shown in the photo to the left. This rather unremarkable looking tschotske, which is currently for sale on EBay, comes with its own elaborate backstory written by provocative playwright and filmmaker Neil LaBute.
The auction is sponsored by Significant Objects, a nonprofit organization that pairs notable writers with mundane objects. Proceeds of the sales go to help various charities.
For the rabbit candle, Significant Objects said that the winning bidder will receive not only the tschotske, but a copy of a story handwritten by LaBute.
In his story, LaBute creates a fictional account of his coming across the rabbit at a church yard sale. ‘It was still chipped in many places, the fingernails of dozens of children who must’ve touched it over the years up there in His room,’ writes LaBute.
‘Marveled at it sitting on His desk while they waited for Him. Watched Him. My friend Tim swore it was ‘yellow’ but I knew the truth -- perhaps I alone -- that is was made of real gold and that there was an actual bunny buried deep inside the wax.’
LaBute concludes his account by saying that he ‘bought the thing for fifty cents and hid it in the back of a drawer when I finally got home.’
As of 10:22 this morning, the current bid for the rabbit was $107.50. The auction is set to close at 2 p.m. local time.
Other objects that are currently up for auction include a communion cross, a bottle opener and a coffee mug.
-- David Ng
RELATED
Neil LaBute: Casting for the stage should be color-blind
