Killer Joe is a play written by Tracy Letts in 1993.
| Killer Joe | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Tracy Letts |
| Characters | Chris Smith (twenty-two years old) Sharla Smith (early thirties) Ansel Smith (thirty-eight years old) Dottie Smith (twenty years old) Killer Joe Cooper (mid-thirties) |
| Date premiered | August 3, 1993 |
| Place premiered | Next Theatre Lab, Evanston, Illinois |
| Original language | English |
| Genre | Black comedy, thriller, in-yer-face theatre |
| Setting | "A trailer home on the outskirts of Dallas, Texas" |
Productions
editThe play was produced then premiered in 1993 at the Next Theatre Lab, in Evanston, Illinois, directed by Wilson Milam.[1] After a successful run, Killer Joe was transferred to the Traverse Theatre at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The play gained positive reviews,[2] and received the Fringe First award, given to new productions at the festival. The play then made its New York premiere Off-Off-Broadway by 29th Street Repertory in 1994.[3]
Killer Joe transferred to London on 16 January 1995 at the Bush Theatre. The limited run at the Bush Theatre was a sell out, and once again received rave reviews.[4] After closing at the Bush Theatre, Killer Joe opened at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, for one year.[citation needed]
Killer Joe was revived Off-Broadway at the Soho Playhouse in October 1998 until 13 June 1999, starring Scott Glenn, Amanda Plummer and Michael Shannon.[5]
In 2018, Killer Joe opened at the Trafalgar Studio, London, starring Orlando Bloom, Sophie Cookson, Adam Gillen, Steffan Rhodri and Neve McIntosh.[6] This production was directed by Simon Evans.[7] Previews began on May 18, with the official opening on June 4. The production closed on August 18, 2018. Adam Gillen was nominated for a 2019 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor In a Supporting Role for his role in the production.[8]
Synopsis
editKiller Joe is set in a trailer park in Mesquite, Texas, in present day. It follows the story of police detective and hit-man Joe Cooper. Joe is hired to kill the mother of a young drug dealer, Chris, with Chris's father Ansel as an accomplice. However, Chris and Ansel cannot afford to pay Joe, so Joe accepts Chris' innocent sister Dottie as a form of payment until the debts can be paid.
Adaptation
editLetts adapted the dark comedy into the film Killer Joe in 2011.[9]
References
edit- ^ "The Sensational Saga Of A 'Killer' Show". tribunedigital-chicagotribune. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ^ "Episode 888 - Tracy Letts". WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. Retrieved 2019-04-07.
- ^ Hampton, Wilborn. "Theater Review; Dysfunctional Family Redefines The Concept". Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ^ "A killer on the loose". The Independent. 1995-01-24. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ^ "Off-Broadway's Killer Joe to Close June 13 | Playbill". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ^ "Orlando Bloom Will Star in Tracy Letts' Killer Joe in the West End". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
- ^ "Simon Evans on BBC lockdown drama Staged and Oxford Playhouse fundraiser starring Stephen Fry, Marcus Brigstocke, Lucy Porter & Rachel Parris". Ox In A Box. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ Thomas, Sophie (2019-04-08). "Olivier Awards 2019: Full list of winners". London Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2019-04-19.
- ^ Killer Joe (2011) - IMDb, retrieved 2019-04-07