Violence, pyrotechnics, gunshots, strobe lights, tobacco smoke, strong language and explicit nudity are things one associates with an Eminem show, not LSU Theatre. But all of these aspects are part of its latest offering, Tracy Letts’ “Killer Joe.”
Set in a trailer park on the outskirts of Dallas, audiences will find Letts providing astute and often hilarious commentary on Southern American culture, as well as the basic human condition, through selfish acts of greed, sex and violence.
Directed by John Dennis, “Killer Joe” features a cast consisting solely of LSU theatre graduate students, some performing in the last production of their academic careers. The story follows Chris Smith and his dysfunctional family — his father Ansel, his stepmother Sharla, and his sister Dottie — through their devious plan to kill Chris’ mother and cash in her life insurance policy so he can pay his debts and save his life. The conscience, though a minimal role at the start of the play, becomes a more dominant presence as the play carries moves forward.
Chris hires Killer Joe, a dirty cop who doubles as an assassin, to finish off his mother. The selfish twists and complex turns show the audience everyone’s motives to make a quick buck while conveniently ridding themselves of a nuisance. But Letts allows tiny glimpses of humanity and true compassion to slowly seep through the script, showing the audience the characters’ depth and the story’s uniqueness.
When Chris is unable to pay Joe in advance, Joe decides to take Dottie as his retainer. Dottie falls for Joe, despite, or maybe because of, a psychologically altering sexual encounter at the end of Act I.
The second act unravels a story wound up and built to a peaking tension at the end of Act I. The characters go through pain, suffering and regret to come to the play’s unexpected ending.
LSU Theatre’s production of “Killer Joe” is the definition of an ensemble performance. Not one character is concentrated upon more than another, and the acting skill plateaus at a highly respectable level. However, it must be noted that Libby King and Tara MacMullen tackle Dottie’s difficult, simple, but not to be mistaken for naïve character, and make it look easy. The audience may be convinced that Dottie is replaceable entertainment in the beginning of the play, but the end it otherwise.
The characters in “Killer Joe” are deeper than the cursing, sexually blatant rednecks they appear to be, and that is what brings this story to life. The vibrant speeches of remorse and hope juxtaposed with jokes about bestiality, TV and trailer park life provide an entertaining event leaving audiences pondering life questions.
“Killer Joe” will be playing in the Claude L. Shaver Theatre in the Music & Dramatic Arts Building from Feb. 18 to 23. All performances Tuesday through Saturday start at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday performances start at 2 p.m. Tickets are $8.50 for students, $13.50 for seniors and LSU employees and $15.50 for the general public. Tickets are available at the LSU Union Box Office by calling 578-3527, all Ticketmaster outlets by calling 761-8400, or online at www.theatre.lsu.edu.