November 1, 2015 —Intimate is the only way to describe the Players' Ring in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Housed in a non-descript brick building on the edge of the historic Strawbery Banke area, the small square stage is surrounded by seating on three sides. Posts aupporting the ceiling partially block views, but are not a major problem. You feel like you're part of the action within the small space where actors frequently come within touching distance of the audience.This evening was the final performance of "Killer Joe" by Tracy Letts, produced and directed by Todd Hunter. In a trailer in Texas in the 1990's, Ansel Smith (Michael Towle) lives with his second wife, Sharla (Jennifer Henry), and son and daughter from his previous marriage, Chris (Kyle Milner) and pretty, sweet, but not too bright Dottie (Jessica Miller).
Chris owes money to a gang who might cause him serious injury, or worse, if he doesn't pay up. Chris pleads with his father for a loan, but Ansel is penniless. Together, they hatch a plot to hire Joe Cooper (Matthew Schofield), a police detective who moonlights as a killer for hire, to kill Ansel's first wife, Chris and Dottie's mother, and collect her $50,000 insurance, for whom they've been told Dottie is the beneficiary. This must be done in absolute secrecy, but they discover Dottie has eaves-dropped on their entire conversation. Much to their surprise, she thinks it's a good idea.
"Killer Joe" Cooper shows up, cool and menacing, and lays out his conditions for the job. When they can't pay him in advance, he demands a "retainer." The retainer he requires happens to be Dottie. Ansel and Chris agree. These people are the worst kind of trailer trash, vulgar, violent, totally lacking in morals. Oh, and I should add funny. There are plenty of laugh lines interspersed throughout the angry yelling and violent outbursts.
Of course, nothing goes as planned, and events lead to a confrontation and well-choreographed and convincing fight scene involving the entire cast at the end, almost frightening to the audience within the confines of the small theater. The excellent cast earned a well-deserved standing ovation.
