Blood, Guts and Kittycats: 'Inishmore's Morbid Comedy

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A TRIP TO SEE Signature Theatre's new production of "The Lieutenant of Inishmore" is a bit like sitting in the "splash zone" at Sea World. Instead of getting doused with saltwater by dolphins, you're getting sprayed with blood from gunshot victims.

The Washington premiere of Martin McDonagh's extraordinarily dark comedy will give audience members an opportunity to laugh even though their jaws have dropped.

The story begins with a dead cat in the Irish town of Inishmore. The cat belongs to Padraic (Karl Miller), a psychotic terrorist with the Irish Liberation Army who has no problem tearing out the toenails of an accused drug dealer, but can't bear the prospect of living without his kitty.

When Padraic pays a visit to his father, Donny (John Lescault), to see the poor animal (which he has been told is just faring "poorly"), he is greeted with a more complicated set of characters and events than he bargained for.

McDonagh's play, performed on a misguidingly idyllic Irish country set, combines ironic, witty dialogue with game-changing plot twists to keep the play moving along at a rapid clip.

According to director Jeremy Skidmore, McDonagh "always pulls his audiences into aggressive worlds. And with the ultra-adrenaline pumped into this play, I think that everyone sitting in the 112-seat Ark should ready themselves for a real 'in-your-face' experience.'"

» Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington; through Nov. 16, $44-$81; 703-820-9771, signature-theatre.org.

Written by Express contributor Dan Miller
Photo by Scott Suchman