Feature: RONNIE BRIXTON – THE BEST OF BRITISH BOXING at Hollywood Fringe At The Complex Hollywood

"Ronnie Brixton - The Best of British Boxing" is a profound one-person show using a testosterone-laden subject to explore the very depths of human emotion and the complexity of gender. Catch the Los Angeles run in the Ruby Theatre of the Hollywood Fringe at The Complex Hollywood June 2-23.

Top BBC Boxing commentator Ronnie Brixton desperately wants to please his father, the revered boxing trainer "King George." While trying to surpass his father's legend and stand out on his own, Brixton admits to disappointment when he gets beaten up as a child while training with his father. Brixton grows into a young man and, after realizing he will never become a boxer, pursues the next best avenue as a commentator. While the performance includes brief film snippets of top boxing matches, the dialog delves into rage festering under the surface. In fact, Brixton is "interrupted" by a voice off stage and, distracted, he requires prompting to continue interacting with the audience.

Since the tabloids in Great Britain dig up any scandal, Brixton wants to address the rumors about his love life. As he unequivocally states, "I am not gay," a deep secret darkens his soul.

The last act astounds as he finally expresses his truth, despite an attempted suicide, as Brixton stands up as an authentic person.

David Shaughnessy stars as Ronnie Brixton with his return to acting. He is known as the voice of Sir Didymus in the Jim Henson classic film "The Labyrinth." Shaughnessy then transitioned into an Emmy Award-winning television director as well as directing live theater.

After a run in Las Vegas and now performing in Los Angeles, Shaughnessy told BroadwayWorld.com, "I'm looking forward to doing the show in LA. It's my hometown, and I am hoping that friends and family will turn up to support me! But for that same reason, I'm a little nervous."

As for Los Angeles audiences, Shaughnessy explained that "I would like to think the power of the play and the emotional roller coaster it takes the audience on, will result in the same positive reactions we had in Vegas. I have some connections in the LGBTQ community here in LA, and I'm hopeful it will generate some interest, as this is a very timely topic."

Written by Byron Tidwell and the late Lincoln Hudson, the role was to be originated by Hudson. After Hudson's untimely death, Shaughnessy was approached about performing the lead even though he had not acted for 35 years.

Even with decades between performances, this play has stretched Shaughnessy tremendously as an actor. Having done years of Shakespeare, contemporary comedy, and drama, his character of Ronnie has taken him to places Shaughnessy has never experienced before. It has been both a challenging and enriching journey and one he looks forward to sharing with Southern California audiences.

With the volatility of today's social climax, Shaughnessy's performance transcends social conventions to bring the audience to tears with a sense of hope.

The Ruby Theatre at The Complex in Hollywood is a very intimate venue. It offers an expansive stage area, which gives Shaughnessy more freedom to move and interact with the audience.

"Ronnie Brixton - The Best of British Boxing" will perform in the Ruby Theatre of the Hollywood Fringe at The Complex Hollywood, located at 6476 Santa Monica Blvd., June 2-23. Click here for tickets, times and dates.

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