A night at the theatre that is simply 'Killer'

by Emma Rose Kraus
Journalism Intern

The Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s (OKCTC) first show of its 18th season opens with a bang. Killer Joe, by the renowned Tracy Letts, writer of August: Osage County, bares all in a story of innocence, greed, lies and corruption, and the worst of the worst of humanity, who really don’t look that much different from us.

The show, directed by Kory Kight-Pagala, is only the beginning of OKCTC’s “Barely Legal” season which will question what is legal and the taboos of our culture from numerous angles.

“At its core [Killer Joe] is asking a really important social question which is about hopelessness and morality for the people who have been given the least choices in our culture,” says President of the OKCTC Board of Directors Katie Davis, “That when you hit rock-bottom what kind of moral and ethical universe could you possibly live in?”

True to its message, KillerJoe never gives the audience a moment to catch their breath. With a cast of well-trained actors portraying their characters with a level of believability that will leave you stunned, if what you are looking for is a night of thought provoking theatre that will leave you speechless, this is not the show to miss.

From the moment lights come up on the inside of the trailer where Killer Joe’s action takes place you will be thoroughly transported into the reality of Texas trailer trash grotesque. The set, costumes and props, just like the acting, have been painstakingly developed to their tiniest detail to transform the theatre space into a flawless depiction of the inside room of a rundown trailer home, right down to the linoleum kitchen floor and tin-foil covering the windows.

This reality also extends to its depictions of violence and nudity, which are prevalent throughout this play and continues OKCTC’s tradition of edgy, risky theatre while also, according to Davis, reintroduces the company as targeting a more specific audience group.

“When we thought about our 18th season we thought, ‘Wow, here is the year we are legally of age to be a theatre for grown-ups,’” exclaims Davis, “And in being a theatre for grown-ups we not only want to talk about grown-up issues, we want to entertain grown-ups the way they like it.”

To say KillerJoewas entertaining would be an understatement. The entire production will have you on the edge of your seat, and your comfort levels, from beginning to end. Trust me, the intermission is a necessary break from the intensity of these performances. And yet, even with the discomfort of Joe’s taboo storyline, the ending will leave you aching for more.

This is a play that will prompt thoughtful discussion and that’s just the kind of theatre OKCTC is aiming to put on.

“KillerJoeis a raunchy, gritty dark comedy…but the rest of this season really has its own stretches in different directions,” Davis says, “We’re delighted to be the regional premier of Taylor Mac’s play Here which is going to open up some fantastic conversations not only about trauma and domestic violence, but certainly about transgender identity and security and power issues.”

The company will continue to push the limits with the rest of their season which explores issues of AIDS, racism, homophobia and the legalities and norms surrounding them in our culture.

It’s a gutsy move for a theatre to take such a taboo stance during a time of economic crisis in Oklahoma for arts organizations that have been receiving any sort of state funding.

“The Arts Council has less to offer in support of the arts than they have for decades and so all of the theatres and dance companies and symphonies are thinking about, ‘Who are we?’ and ‘Who do we serve?’” Davis reveals, “And OKCTC is going to be campy and raunchy and fringe and funny and risky and our audiences like that and we hope that we will build an audience by saying to the public, ‘This is who we are.’”

If the rest of OKCTC’s season is anything like KillerJoeit will certainly leave a lasting impression.

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Shows run Oct 27-29, Nov 3-5, 2016 – 8 p.m.
Individual tickets are available through the Civic Center Music Hall Box Office for $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors and $15/person in groups of 15 or more.
Season tickets can be purchased at $100/adult or $75 for students and seniors.
If you are interested in supporting OKCTC make sure to visit www.okctc.org to learn about the new Patron Program.

Copyright 2016 The Gayly - 10/28/2016 @ 9:53 a.m. CST