'The Cockfight Play' opens at The Players Theatre in Sarasota

One of the most acclaimed and most talked-about plays of the past couple of years is known as "The Cockfight Play." That's not the actual title of the piece, though. The actual title is a four-letter word that a lot of publications (including ours) wouldn't print.

The title adds a bit of mystique to the play, which has been a hit with audiences and critics in London, Los Angeles and New York. Now it's coming to Sarasota, where the Players Theatre will stage the play in its intimate Back Stage space.

The play itself is, by all accounts, inventive, tense and challenging, even though its a comedy. Three of playwright Mike Bartlett's four characters are identified only by single letters -- M, W and F (for Man, Woman and Father). The fourth is named John. John has been in a relationship with M but finds himself drawn to emotionally and sexually to W. In its previous incarnations, at least, it has been staged on a minimalistic set that recalls a cockfighting ring.

The Players production features Joshua Brin as John, Chris Hines as M, Neil Kasanofsky as F and Casey Kelley as W. Michael Newton-Brown directs.

In case it's not obvious from the title and the situation, this play includes adult situations and language.

Details: Nov. 12-22, The Players Theatre, 838 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Show times: 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets: $18. Information: 941-365-2494, theplayers.org.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published November 11, 2015 at 4:55 PM with the headline "'The Cockfight Play' opens at The Players Theatre in Sarasota ."