It’s not every day a World Premiere play lands at Syracuse Stage, but the writer hopes it’s a real knock-out with audiences. The storyline for “Relentless” is based off an iconic boxing gym in Brooklyn. Playwright Rae Binstock trained at Gleason’s as an amateur boxer in 2019. She wrote the play as a tribute to her trainer Darrell Pierre who died in 2022 and the gym’s resilience to stay afloat both during and after the pandemic.
“…and wanting to get the spirit of Gleason's and of Darrell and the work that he did," said Binstock. "Wanting to get it out into the world, and wanting to trumpet as much as I possibly can the importance of Gleason's, of the people who train there and who offer training there.”
One of the actors has been a lifelong boxer since age 13. David Harrison Pralgo says he prepped for his audition as if he was training for a fight. He credits boxing for his self-confidence, discipline, and his success as a young actor.
“Just be honest with myself. You know, different pockets where I stopped boxing and I noticed that, how I assess myself, and my skills kind of dip because I don't have boxing to keep me accountable," said Pralgo. "When I get in the ring and I get beat up which still happens. I fought at Gleason’s in 2019 and I lost that fight, ‘cause I didn’t train.”
Pralgo describes his character as a driven and hungry 16 year-old “Wookie” Lee who dreams of becoming a great boxer. Play director Melissa Crespo recently visited Gleason’s with the cast and playwright Binstock.
“People bring their dogs, they bring their babies, every single type of person you can imagine from diverse backgrounds," she said. They're all there and they're all welcoming,” she said. “It is a very democratic space that I felt at home in and I did not expect that. And this play captures that feeling.”
“Relentless” runs through February 22nd. Syracuse Stage is a supporter of WAER.
