A door is left ajar, just wide enough for a chicken to walk in. Eva O’Connor, in a magnificent costume, pecks, clucks and flaps her wings as she makes her way to the centre of the audience. It is an audacious start and one that immediately gets the crowd’s attention. However, this story of fame, fortune and poultry rights struggles to keep that focus, devolving into clichéd beats and weak puns. While there are captivating images thrown in, they are poorly stitched together and there is no build, with an ending that feels particularly unearned, as though it’s from a different story altogether.

The confidence with which O’Connor tells this story easily creates a world where a chicken could travel from rural Ireland to become a famed actor. There are shades of Bojack Horseman in the strange ridiculousness of this animal holding a mirror up to our humanity. However, whereas that series tackles clear themes with complex characters, Chicken often feels confused in what it’s trying to say. The whole project would perhaps be enhanced with some added sound design or stagecraft, and even the resplendent costume becomes dulled after an hour. This is the kind of thing that Summerhall often does so well, but sadly this chicken feels undercooked. 

Chicken, Summerhall, until 27 August, 8.50pm.