REVIEW: Killer Joe

I feel particularly compelled to write a review for Killer Joe because I feel like I have stumbled upon a hidden treasure at the People’s Center Theater in Minneapolis.  There were about 15 people in the audience this evening and that is a damn shame because it is truly an exceptional production.  I find most plays slow and the acting unbelievable.  With Killer Joe, it was the exact opposite.  Not only did this play keep me engaged, I found the majority of the acting to be exceptional and deeply moving.  With the seating being just inches from the actors, I was really impressed.  If you’re looking for fresh, well-executed theater, Killer Joe is for you.

Written by acclaimed playwright Tracy Letts, this story tells the sordid and satirical tale of Chris, a drug dealer who decides his best chance of saving his own skin involves killing his mom Dottie for the insurance money. Other members of the Smith family see dollar signs and join Chris in hiring Killer Joe Cooper (who also happens to be a cop) to execute the contract. All hell breaks through when this host of incompetent, back-stabbing characters twist themselves into one heck of a deep-fried, white-trashed mess.

Killer Joe plays through October 7th.  Discount tickets can be purchased through Goldstar.com for $13.50 (Reg. $20).  Be advised: this play, which features staged violence, nudity and a healthy dose of four-letter-words, is not for children.