The Pantry Shelf Team M & M "Are you saying I need to sex up my oats?" is just one of the comedic, food-based lines that make this conceptually clever piece so enjoyable. Immediately thrust into the madcap world of talking food, the play begins with the awakening screech of a wasabi pea tub and doesn't look back. Soon, we are presented with the hilariously varied ways in which corn chips, chocolate, peas, a quinoa bar and porridge oats could advertise themselves as viable snacks for purchaser Mandy. Although the large number of blackouts and lack of room slightly slow the pace, any loss of atmosphere is made up for by the buzzing delivery of every line. A feast for the eyes, and very much worth a watch.

Sarah Howell - 7/8/2010
http://edinburgh.threeweeks.co.uk/review/9451

When they first appear on stage, you would be forgiven for thinking the characters dressed in gigantic food costumes are about to perform a slapstick sketch show or take part in some reenactment of It’s A Knockout.

Peel back the outer layers of packaging on Team M&M’s The Pantry Shelf however, and you’ll uncover a sharply-written and funny satire on commercialism and the food industry. With a giant tub of wasabi peas and genetically-enhanced tomatoes.

Written by husband and wife team Marion Shortt and Mark Prebble, the Edinburgh-based company provide 55 minutes of clever and comedic entertainment as new arrival – Queenie the Quinoa, Date & Bark Bar – discovers the hidden secrets & politics of the shelves as the foods compete for the attention of the unseen human pantry-owner Mandy.

During this tale of chips and chocolate, everything from binge eating to genetically-modified food is satirised by a cast who are not only obviously having fun playing their parts, but also show themselves to be fine comic actors.

Shortt herself plays Queenie as she comes to terms with the decline of her nutritional value, consoled and comforted by an excellent Robert Howatt as the sheepish Paul’s Porridge – who really wants to leave the rest of the breakfast foods behind and join in the fun of the party snacks. Adrienne Zitt exudes a smooth and seductive sheen as the snooty Black Velvet Chocolate; whilst Ewan Law is greatly entertaining as the slightly manic Carlito’s Corn Chips.

Emma Mclennan packs a mighty wallop as the hyperactive Wasabi Punch peas, and the whole ensemble double up as other characters, including gossipping cans, aloof milk cartons and forgotten jars of out-of-date cough syrup.

The set is big, bold and colourful and suits the tone of the piece perfectly, which contains a great mixture of wit, comedy and satirical ingredients to create a rather tasty show you’d be daft to leave on the shelf.

Keith D
25/8/10
http://www.edinburghspotlight.com/2010/08/fringe-review-the-pantry-shelf-sweet-grassmarket/

The Pantry Shelf is a bright, fun production that gets lots of comedic mileage out of its unique premise: Deep within the pantry on the impulse buy shelf lives talking food products such as wasabi peas, velvet chocolate and Mexican chips who are all desperate to be eaten by their owner, Mandy. They have been with her for a long time so they all know her food fads and where they each stand in the popularity stakes, till a new quinea, date and bark bar finds itself the number one choice when Mandy is having a snack attack.

Written by Mark Pebble and Marion Shortt who have created an amusing world that on the surface is a simple love story between a health bar and dull but reliable porridge but slowly reveals its true satirical colours. Hidden behind the good humour are some fascinating insights into consumerism, the lure of bright new packing, media manipulation and barbed observations about the food industry.

It also has just as much to say about peoples’ shopping habits as the audience in between giggling will be slowly recognising their caffeine addiction, keeping out of date bottles hidden at the back of the shelf and diet fads.

While technically underwhelming, using minimal lighting and a simple static painted set, the show is reliant on the actors in their big and bright costumes to bring the show alive. At this they succeed, bringing infectious enthusiasm and good humour, even if they do rattle through their lines with little regard for comedy timing or consistent accents. They are very watchable, their under polished slap-dash style just adding to the fun.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable, thought provoking play that won’t leave a bad taste in the mouth.

Martin Mile
14/8/10
http://hairline.org.uk/2010/08/14/the-pantry-shelf/

Despite the silly, kids' TV show premise of this ensemble play, it's actually a fun and frivolous piece performed with a lightly humorous touch, answering the previously unasked question - what if the contents of your larder could talk?

In this case, it seems, the excitable Wasabi Punch will go about giving everyone a dead arm, Black Velvet Chocolate will gaze snootily down her nose and old Gooey Cough Syrup will languish in the dark purgatory where unloved foods go to go off. Meanwhile, young and fashionable Queenie (the Quinoa, Date and Bark bar) and boring old Porridge fall in unlikely love.

Team M&M (Edinburgh-based Kiwi duo Mark Prebble and Marion Shortt, the latter always bright and entertaining as Queenie) have created a piece which is well-crafted, likable and charismatic.

An array of great costumes and an interactive backdrop help bring this quirky world to vivid life, but it's the delightfully skilled five-part acting company who truly make it what it is. With or without kids with you, that means a whole load of fun.

David Pollock
25/8/2010
http://www.edinburgh-festivals.com/viewreview.aspx?id=2148