Violence Solves Everything

Padraic, too bloodthirsty and wild for the IRA's liking, is a free-range terrorist who keeps himself busy torturing people and setting off bombs in Northern Ireland. It's a good life, plenty of work and all that, but Padraic isn't a monster — he has a heart. The object of his affection is Wee Thomas, his little kitty, who's currently safe at home on Inishmore with Padraic's father, Donny, tending to his needs. Except — and this is a big "except" — Wee Thomas is somewhat dead, and now Padraic has to burn his way across the country to get home and determine if Wee Thomas was murdered. Martin McDonagh attacks senseless violence with more senseless violence in his blistering satire The Lieutenant of Inishmore. The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis opens its Off-Ramp series with Lieutenant at 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 17; the show continues every day except Monday through Sunday, October 12, at the Grandel Theatre (3610 Grandel Square; 314-968-4925 or www.repstl.org). Tickets are $15 to $50.
Tuesdays-Sundays. Starts: Sept. 17. Continues through Oct. 12, 2008