Jen McArthur uses physical gesture and dance in her one-woman show Echolalia, which explores the subject of Asperger’s syndrome and social etiquette. Echo is a character trapped inside her home and inside her own head; we see her go about her daily routine, obsessively counting her steps and repeating her routines. She is preparing for a job interview, but struggles to break free of her situation.

McArthur is a joy to watch; her movements flit between grace and awkwardness, her presence on stage is compelling. But the piece itself is slightly hazy in its approach to such a broad subject. We certainly understand her daily struggle, and we empathise with her, but the presentation is somewhat superficial. It makes no move to delve deep into the subject, to explore its cause or effect, or to engage us on any meaningful emotional level. The scenes are also often lacking in drama or a sense of the theatrical, and rely only on the force of McArthur’s presence to carry them.

McArthur’s awkward interaction with the audience certainly highlights the theme of social etiquette, but my overall feeling was one of cringing embarrassment, and I took away no understanding of what exactly she was trying to say. I wanted to know more about the character’s past, more about her life and the external pressures she was under. I needed more context to place the piece in, to broaden my understanding of the wider subject. What I ended up with is a glance at the tip of the iceberg.

With such a strong performer at its centre, it’s a shame that Echolalia doesn’t hit harder of delve any deeper. But it was nonetheless an entertaining hour, and when Echo takes some small steps to confronting her condition at the end of the piece, I still found that I cared for her. I just wanted to understand her better.