Following on from a string of Edinburgh Fringe successes in 2006 and considerable media buzz, my expectations for the Arches Theatre Company's production 'Pit' were already rather high. The play sees Myrtle carefully preparing a meal. As her frustration with the methodical processes simmers, we catch glimpses of her life and the origins of her evident anxiety.
A one-woman show performed by three women may seem an unattractive contradiction, but the concept is well executed. The actresses craft skilled performances, pulling you through a story which is only easily comprehendible at its conclusion. Set and props are put to perfect use and 'Pit' oozes an effortless class. However, at times it was hard not to cringe at overused dramatic devices and I found myself wishing the direction had been a little more daring.
While the production was clearly well-acted, very stylish and contained some truly poignant moments, it unfortunately failed to connect as a whole. As a result, this left me intrigued, but ultimately unsatisfied.
