Dani Kass's Reviews > The Pillowman

I do not have enough good things to say about this play. It's fucked up and wonderfully creative and imaginative. It's hilarious and absurd but dark and heavy. I only regretted that it took me so long to find out it existed.

The Pillowman takes place in a jail in a totalitarian state, where author Katurian is being questioned for the murder of several children whose deaths eerily follow his short stories. In the next room is his brother, who has confessed to the killings. Katurian is willing to do anything to protect his brother and to stop the police from destroying his work, as they hope to do.

What unfolds are incredibly imaginative and dark stories from Katurian's works and horrific abuse described from the hands of their parents. It's not for those who can't handle reading about violence, but rather those who can enjoy the creativity behind different kinds of violence.

It reminded me so poignantly of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, so I was less than surprised to find out Martin McDonagh is behind them both. It's a must-read if you enjoyed that movie.