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A review by jonh
Killer Joe by Tracy Letts
5.0
Killer Joe is probably my favorite Tracy Letts play. Bug's a close second, but Killer Joe is definitely tops.
Chris is in dire financial straits, and the only option seems to be killing his mother for the insurance money. He, his father, and his father's step-mother, hire Killer Joe: a crooked detective who murders on the side. The only problem is that Killer Joe requires payment up front, no exception, and the Smiths don't have it. But perhaps he'll make an exception for Chris's sister, who immediately catches his eye . . .
Such a menacing play, full of anger and malevolence and violence. The characters are coarse, and broad "white trash" stereotypes are freely utilized. But utilized smartly: in reveling in these stereotypes, Letts gets to the heart of his characters' dark souls, and finds complexity where one might only assume shallowness.
I had the good fortune of seeing a portion of this play performed in a small apartment kitchen: a particular scene with a shocking, garish, violent act perpetrated. It was shocking, perversely thrilling, even. Watching that scene drove home how loaded Letts's earlier works are. Intense, angry plays with big ideas, and an eye for what audiences want to see.
I like August: Osage County just fine, but when it comes to Tracy Letts, I gotta go with his earlier work, especially Killer Joe. Check it out: you won't regret it.
Chris is in dire financial straits, and the only option seems to be killing his mother for the insurance money. He, his father, and his father's step-mother, hire Killer Joe: a crooked detective who murders on the side. The only problem is that Killer Joe requires payment up front, no exception, and the Smiths don't have it. But perhaps he'll make an exception for Chris's sister, who immediately catches his eye . . .
Such a menacing play, full of anger and malevolence and violence. The characters are coarse, and broad "white trash" stereotypes are freely utilized. But utilized smartly: in reveling in these stereotypes, Letts gets to the heart of his characters' dark souls, and finds complexity where one might only assume shallowness.
I had the good fortune of seeing a portion of this play performed in a small apartment kitchen: a particular scene with a shocking, garish, violent act perpetrated. It was shocking, perversely thrilling, even. Watching that scene drove home how loaded Letts's earlier works are. Intense, angry plays with big ideas, and an eye for what audiences want to see.
I like August: Osage County just fine, but when it comes to Tracy Letts, I gotta go with his earlier work, especially Killer Joe. Check it out: you won't regret it.