
THEATER REVIEW: 'Killer Joe'
Palaver Tree Theater presents a darkly funny 'Killer Joe'
THEATER REVIEW
By Mandy Holley
Special to the Tallahassee Democrat
(Jordan Marcum, Collin Johnson, Lyndsey Woods, Caleb Goodman Photo: Gerald Brown Photo)
Every family can go a little nuts, but even your wildest Thanksgiving dinner story can’t compare to the drama you will watch unfold over the Smith’s kitchen table.
On Thursday, The Palaver Tree Theater in Crawfordville, invited audiences into the spine-chilling yet darkly funny world of "Killer Joe," a genre-bending experience that defies definition. The play runs Sept. 23-24 and Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
(Caleb Goodman Photo: Gerald Brown Photo)
Director Gary Brame’s vision and ambition have brought together a winning combination of talented local actors and dedicated crew members to transport audiences to a trailer park in Texas that they won’t soon forget.
Written by the incomparable Tracy Letts (the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright behind "August: Osage County"), "Killer Joe" follows Chris Smith as he struggles to weasel his way out of being in debt to a drug lord.
(Collin Johnson, Caleb Goodman Photo: Gerald Brown Photo)
Chris and his father, Ansel, decide to employ the services of a cop named Joe Cooper who moonlights as a hitman to kill Chris’ alcoholic mother for her life insurance money. When the men cannot pay Joe upfront and he settles on Chris’ younger sister, Dottie, for his retainer, opposing forces clash as the show begins to hurtle toward an edge-of-your-seat finale.
An intricate and intimate set design plops the viewer right in the middle of the action that plays out in a fully furnished kitchen and living room.
From the empty cigarette cartons strewn about to the cluttered appliances on the counter to the soft quilt slung over the back of the couch, it almost feels like you have peeked in the window of your neighbor’s house and caught of glimpse of their daily life.
(Lyndsey Woods, Jordan Marcum. Photo: Gerald Brown Photo)
Clever lighting, sound, and prop design tug at other senses — the smell of ash after a smoke, the distant bark of a lonely dog, the wacky refrains of cartoons on the television— for an engaging authenticity.
Bringing such complex characters to life is no mean feat, but the cast of "Killer Joe" make it look easy.
Caleb Goodman plays a scrappy and, initially, self-interested Chris who hides a softer side. Dottie is portrayed by Jordan Marcum who delivers a sweetly enigmatic yet volatile performance, particularly in her interactions with Collin Johnson’s ruthless, machinating, but charismatic Joe.
(Herb Donaldson. Photo: Gerald Brown Photo)
Rounding out the cast, Herb Donaldson (the Artistic Director of Palaver Tree Theater) embodies the Smith patriarch, Ansel, with expert comedic timing and aplomb, while Lyndsey Woods takes on Ansel’s wife, Sharla, skillfully balancing the catty and the cunning.
A bloody examination of choices, consequences, autonomy and morality, "Killer Joe" is the black comedy/drama you didn’t know you needed. So come on down and see what’s cooking at the Smith’s…if you ain’t chicken.
NOTE: This play contains scenes of simulated smoking, strong language, violence, and intense sexuality. Not recommended for those under 16 years old.
What: "Killer Joe," by Tracy Letts
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 23, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sept. 24; 8 p.m. Sept. 30 and 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 1
Where: Palaver Tree Theater, 59 Shadeville Road, Crawfordville
Tickets: $15 for one or $25 for two can be purchased at the door before each performance or online at palavertreetheater.org.
Bobby Felix
HOW I GOT BACK MY STOLEN BITCOIN FUNDS AFTER A FAILED INVESTMENT.
Hello everyone, I’m Bobby Felix from Oakland, California.
A month ago, I invested $204,000 worth of bitcoins into an investment account through their website stockfxtrade.net/
When it was time to withdraw my profits which were at that time $719,000, their website crashed and logged me out, I sent countless emails and messages to them and the investment company became unresponsive. Realizing that I have been scammed of my money, I began to seek several means to get back my funds, I went to the authorities but they couldn’t trace or locate this company. At some point, I began to give up on the hope of ever getting back my funds until a colleague of mine told me about ASTRAWEB CYBER, a cryptocurrency recovery company that has been helping many others like me to get back their funds, I hurriedly contacted them and provided all the necessary information, and with the information I provided, ASTRAWEB CYBER was able to recover my $204,000 worth of bitcoins in 48 hours. Their service is truly magnificent and I gladly commend their efforts.
I never would have imagined I could get back my funds and I’m grateful to ASTRAWEB CYBER for their help.
Reach them via E-Mail: ASTRAWEB@CYBERDUDE. COM
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM FOR ALL YOUR BITCOIN, CRYPTO, AND DIGITAL CURRENCY RECOVERY.
Good luck.
Renee Zaffuto
I have been on an online dating for a while in search of a serious date though I found my soul mate whom I love so much and he promised to come over to me at the same time he was taking so much time to come over I wanted to really find out if he is real to me just like I am to him I hired an expert hacker to help me hack into his phone to know if he has another lover somewhere after the hack of patrickbenardwizard@gmail.com brought me results of his full phone
starting from his applications, text messages, deleted messages, call logs, call records, phone gallery and many more and I discovered this guy has been dating me and 3 others promising same things he had promised me its heart breaking. I advice you all searching for love online, you should be careful rather before you put all your hope on the person you are talking with email patrickbenardwizard@gmail.com or WhatsApp him +31630291166 to help you hack his or her
phone to know if he or she is real to you thanks.
Manuel Franco
I just want to say Thank You to everyone who supported me through the years. My name is Manuel Franco, New Berlin, Wisconsin. My story of how I won the Powerball lottery of $768.4M is a bit of a tale. I have been playing Powerball tickets for 6 years now since I turned 18. I bought my first ticket on my 18 birthday. I was feeling very lucky that day because I had contacted Dr. Odunga Michael to help me with the winning Powerball numbers. I really had that great great feeling that I looked at the camera wanting to wink at it. I only did a tiny part of it and trusted him. He gave me the numbers after I played a couple other tickets along with it for $10. I checked my ticket after the winnings came online and saw the numbers were correct including the Power play. I screamed for about 10 minutes because it felt like a dream. I had won $768.4M. You can check my winning testimony with the lottery officials just with my name search. Thank you Dr Odunga. Well, his email is odungaspelltemple@gmail.com and you can also call or Whats-app him at +2348167159012 so you guys can contact him
Anne
Recovery Masters Certified Bitcoin Recovery Specialists
I met a Crypto expert online who introduced me to cryptocurrency. I made out my own research and I opted to invest through a Crypto website online. Initially, the investment was running well and I made another investment, which Continued to do until the website was shutted down.. I was unable to withdraw any money including all the profit I Made prior to the incident, but luckily, a colleague of mine from my previous work introduced me to Recovery Masters, a reputable Recovery group of hackers.They arrived precisely in time and helped me retrieve all of the money. The Group did an excellent job,and Had to recommend them to any Scam Victim out there.
Email: support@lostrecoverymaster.com
Reach them out Whatsapp through +1(204)819-5505..
Anne
Recovery Masters Certified Bitcoin Recovery Specialists
I met a Crypto expert online who introduced me to cryptocurrency. I made out my own research and I opted to invest through a Crypto website online. Initially, the investment was running well and I made another investment, which Continued to do until the website was shutted down.. I was unable to withdraw any money including all the profit I Made prior to the incident, but luckily, a colleague of mine from my previous work introduced me to Recovery Masters, a reputable Recovery group of hackers.They arrived precisely in time and helped me retrieve all of the money. The Group did an excellent job,and Had to recommend them to any Scam Victim out there.
Email: support@lostrecoverymaster.com
Reach them out Whatsapp through +1(204)819-5505..