←Recommendations of Pit

At what point does desperation turn to total defeat and then acceptance? Hat and Glasses have clearly reached that point as they engage in their nameless, mundane routine. That Daniel Prillaman’s dialogue makes this so humorous and compelling is an extraordinary achievement. The introduction of the aptly named Third Wheel changes the tone and turns up the tension. This is an absolutely fascinating character study that despite its unique setting is surprisingly relatable. Hope these characters find their way out of the pit and onto the stage.

Daniel Prillaman has created something wonderfully clever in this piece. As the audience you are not distracted by any complex sets or elaborate costumes, instead you are gifted by fabulously tense and provocative dialogue and a relationship where you are desperate to know what will happen next. From the very first 'consideration over coffee' I was utterly fascinated by these characters and I think any performer would be lucky to bring them to live, as would a director for making this piece a reality!

One often feels sorry for Prillamans characters, as does Daniel himself, one would hope. PIT is a complex, yet painfully simple premise; put crabs in a pot and see what happens. When there's just two, companionship and acceptance can follow, throw in a third and all hell can brake loose.
So many unanswered questions, the main being why are they there and who put them there? Also for me, one question remains which I would love an answer to; Just why did the CEO sack the Watchman?
This is Prillaman at his best!

Wow! The microcosm of The Pit is intense! It is indeed, filled with the humorous and mundane ways the prisoners must pass the time while stuck in this scary hole, but when a Third Wheel is added to the party, things get scarier than just wondering "why" they are there. It's like taking an ant farm and watching them work together, then shaking the box and watching it make them fight each other. A terrible human social experiment. Dark and somewhat scary to see the truth that lies in our own inner "pits."

A very imaginative piece that is simple in its execution, but complex in its impact. Playwright Prillaman sets up two characters with time to get to know them, and literally plunges a third into the fragile dynamic. Even in this extreme environment, we often find that change and disruption to our routines to be the biggest obstacle.

The more I think about PIT, the more I am in awe of Daniel Prillaman’s ability to hold the terrible and terrifying truths of his play’s premise just out of reach until the play’s final moments.

Absurd, dark, and satisfyingly cyclical, PIT places its characters in a literal pit of despair, but the humor of the script and its various character dynamics prevent it from becoming too depressing. Sometimes a good day is hunting for rocks and getting your favorite flavor of toaster pastry. Sometimes, you can’t avoid getting shit on your shoes. Excellent, clever work.

What a delightful existential mindfuck from Daniel Prillaman, who, as always, asks the most fascinating questions and offers nothing remotely resembling a comforting answer! The situation is absurd—a group of captives living out their days in a pit in the ground. It's filled with brief, impactful scenes that stimulate the senses... in both good and utterly disturbing ways! The dialogue is snappy and hilarious, with plenty of (literal) riddles throughout. As for me, I couldn't help but ruminate on the bigger questions being asked here in re: comfort and complacency. An amusing, depressing, delightful, efficient, and unique play!

This play is delightfully unexpected in so many ways. Daniel Prillaman sets it up rather brilliantly, as it takes no time at all to figure out where we are, what's happening, and how this situation would normally be terrifying, but his truly innovative take on a buddy comedy puts us at just enough ease to find endless moments of shocked laughter. The characters may be named "Hat" and "Glasses", but make no mistake -- they're fully developed and so much more than their clever (if tragically vague) monikers. I can't wait to see them in person on stage ASAP!

PIT’s has terrifying premise, ripped straight from the most disturbing, bingeable true-crime doc you can imagine: you’ve been kidnapped by a psychopath, thrown in a pit, and held captive with no hope of escape. Somehow, Daniel Prilliman makes it hilarious. Between pop culture debates, brain-teasers and so, so much poop talk, PIT explores some really heady stuff: stasis and disruption, rebellion and acceptance, identity and anonymity. This well-paced existential mindfuck will crack you up, make you cringe, and stick with you long after its well-earned, shocking end.

Silence of the Lambs meets Samuel Beckett. Disturbing yet delightful. I especially appreciated the characterization of Glasses and the never ending cyclical nature of the dialogue. Bravo.