Fat and Fifty
The lazy, fat and fiftyish sheriff operates from behind a battered desk in an increasingly decrepit police station. He is ironically situated as a thing almost to be pitied and certainly at the very least not to be feared. Events quickly unfold to reveal this irony: he is a fascist puppet-master manipulating people for his own sadistic fetishistic enjoyment.
Minding Your Own Business
The title character shows up to do his business right in the middle of what a police investigation that escalates beyond mere excessive force into pathological homicide. Throughout all he really cares about is doing his work and staying out of the way:
“REMOVALIST: Sorry, mate. I’ve got a pretty simple philosophy. If there’s work I work, and if nobody interferes with me then I don’t interfere with nobody.”
Irony: constantly being told to mind your own business when actually doing so often results in making things far worse.
Who Killed Kenny?
There is some ambiguity in the question of who is responsible for killing Kenny. The irony lies in the fact that there is absolutely no question that Ross is physically responsible for the injuries that ultimately kill Kenny. But is it Kenny himself who lights the fuse which causes Ross to explode? Or is it Simmonds, the superior officer. Who really killed Kenny and could the ultimate irony be that the person most responsible was not even in the same room when what is ultimately the fatal blow occurs?
The Good Sister
Kate is ironic counterpart of Simmonds. As the elder sister, she manifests a profound concern for the safety of her sister at the hands of the unpredictably Kenny. She is presented as better dressed and more “elegant” than Fiona. The irony of her presentation is revealed as she begins take her own deviant voyeuristic pleasure in watching Simmons sexually humiliate Fiona.
The Good Cop
Throughout the play, Simmons demonstrates an irony that may or may not be intentional. It is difficult to tell; he seems sincere, but then again his entire personality is a façade. His advice to the rookie Ross is particularly corrosive irony, especially if it really is unintentional:
“The world is full of human beings, Ross. Remember that and you’ll make a good policeman.”
