Brawler

by Walt McGough

Presented by Boston Playwrights Theatre and Kitchen Theatre Company | March 1-18 and April 8 — 22, 2018

Greg Maraio in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Gigi Watson, Greg Maraio, and Marc Pierre in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Greg Maraio in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Anthony Goes and Marc Pierre in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Anthony Goes in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Gigi Watson and Greg Maraio in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Greg Maraio in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Gigi Watson and Anthony Goes in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Anthony Goes in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Greg Maraio, Gigi Watson, Anthony Goes, and Marc Pierre in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Gigi Watson and Anthony Goes in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Marc Pierre in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Anthony Goes and Greg Maraio in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Gigi Watson and Greg Maraio in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Gigi Watson, Anthony Goes, Greg Maraio, and Marc Pierre in Walt McGough’s Brawler at the Kitchen Theatre Company, directed by M. Bevin O’Gara. Photo: Dave Burbank

Adam was the scariest man in the NHL, but that was all last season. Now he's down in the minors and high on pills, and he just trashed the Dunkin' Donuts Center locker room. His friends need to talk him down before he gets into real trouble, but he’s got his own agenda, and is spoiling for one last fight. A modern-day world premiere riff on Sophocles’ "Ajax," seen through the lens of the last true gladiator sport.

"For all its alpha-masculinity, Brawler makes room for more refined and subtle story threads, and the cast — under the intelligent and emotionally wise direction of M. Bevin O’Gara — do fine work all around. […] When the play snaps into focus, it reveals a complex portrait of intense loyalty between fellow athlete-warriors, a bond complicated and derailed by secrets we only gradually come to understand." — WBUR The ARTery