Pit of Hope

What I liked

I enjoyed the dog characters — some great humour there.

What I didn't like

The opening scene sets us up to think the show is going to be about the abuse of power and immigrants at the hands of ICE/DHS, and then pivots hard to the plight of pit bulls in LA shelters, and the whole ICE/DHS political theme is left behind, apart from a couple of references made by the dog left behind.

I have a lot of time for exposés on either subject, but if both are going to be part of the same show, they need to be better integrated.

My primary issue, though, is with the speeches to the audience. With the first one, it wasn’t entirely clear whether the actor was breaking character and preaching to the audience or was pretending to address an audience of protestors at City Hall. (It was clearer the second time, when she made it known she was addressing city commissioners/councillors.). Regardless, both speeches read to me as very preachy.

I don’t understand this need to TELL audiences what they’re supposed to think or feel about an issue, through these over-earnest. long-winded speeches.

I get it — I care about these issues, too, but I don’t go to the theatre to be lectured or cajoled. I go to watch a story unfold and think about what that story means. I draw my own conclusions.

I don’t intend to be mean-spirited in anything I am saying here, but after seeing several other shows on the Fringe, as well as other theatre in LA, I think the theatre-making community here needs to get off the soapbox and focus on story-telling.

My overall impression

I appreciated the sentiment behind this show. I am a pit bull keeper and lover and it breaks my hear to see them mistreated and discarded in circumstances that can only be classed as ‘canine racism’.

Overall, I was glad I chose to see this show.