Zoe Perry and Chris Pine in "Inishmore." Photo: Craig Schwartz.

It begins with a dead cat and grows more gruesome by the minute—“worse and worse and worse the story gets,” as one character grimly observes—culminating in, shall we say, a very messy finale. Martin McDonagh’s “The Lieutentant of Inishmore” (at the Mark Taper Forum through August 8) is a comedy of terrors, a farcical thrill ride in a getaway car that speeds up as it rounds some sharp curves. It is decidedly not for all tastes; if you get a little queasy at the sight of blood, you might want to pass.

“Inishmore,” which has little to do with the island off the West Coast of Ireland for which it’s named, follows in the tradition of other McDonagh plays but ups the ante in its quotient of violence and black Irish humor. This is about as black, and as funny, as it gets. The opening night audience was screaming with laughter, and jumped to its feet in a rousing standing ovation.

Chris Pine is a standout as Padraic, the trigger-happy, feline-loving terrorist whose deceased pet sets the play in motion. Zoe Perry is a perfect match as his spunky, unfeminine love interest, Mairead. Sean G. Griffin and Andrew Connolly make strong impressions, respectively, as Padraic’s half-daft father Donny and his chief nemesis Christy; Coby Getzug is fun as Mairead’s goofy brother Davey. Director Wilson Milam, who directed the Broadway production, handles the play’s quiet moments as expertly as the tense and anxious ones. Call 213-628-2772.

Hot tip: Ever attended an experimental opera in a defunct car dealership? Now’s your chance. Overtone Industries' innovative "Songs and Dances of Imaginary Lands," directed by O-Lan Jones, has extended their critically acclaimed production at least one more week, continuing through August 25.

More from Jordan:

Fishburne and Orlandersmith star in solo shows in Westwood, Culver City

Fullerton's STAGEStheatre revisits ‘Spring's Awakening’ & ‘Twilight Zone’

Pageant of the Masters revels in Laguna; ‘Lion in Winter’ roars in Orange

Kino’s American Film Theatre set preserves great plays on DVD

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