Katie deBuys, Edward Gero and Gregory Linington in The Night Alive at Round House Theatre. (Photo by Cheyenne Michaels)

For some time, The Night Alive proceeds gently, a quiet drama peppered with comedic moments. We meet several down-on-their-luck characters, and see how they relate to each other.

Then, Chekov’s gun shows up =—or in this case, Chekov’s hammer. And with the looming object in sight, things take an abrupt, violent turn.

Despite the shift in story, Conor McPherson’s play is generally a subtle one, tackling big ideas of moral duty and purpose by showing how his characters grow in the face of shifting circumstances. Edward Gero plays Tommy, a struggling, separated middle-aged man in Ireland who’s barely chugging along. Estranged from his family, Tommy’s lost his business, renting out a room from a depressed widower (Michael Tolaydo) and cobbling together jobs with his rather simple, co-dependent friend Doc (Gregory Linington). Their lives are shaken up when Tommy plays Good Samaritan and brings Aimee (Katie deBuys) into his home, a prostitute fleeing from her abusive boyfriend. Aimee’s arrival brings a spark to their lives—but also danger.

The Night Alive is a star vehicle for Gero, and the actor rises to the challenge. Tommy’s circumstances may be pitiable (the man accidentally eats dog biscuits as a snack, and it barely phases him), but Gero finds the right mix of strength and vulnerability to keep the audience invested in his fate. His warmth shines through in such moments as an impromptu dance scene with Doc and Aimee when Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Goin’ On?” comes onto the radio. And his compassion is present not only in his decision to take in Aimee, but in his day-to-day life keeping Doc on his feet (Linington, for his part, draws plenty of laughs out of his supporting role).

The Night Alive isn’t as spiritual as many of McPherson’s plays, and director Ryan Rilette grounds the work in a a realistic set that embodies the chaotic, apathetic clutter of Tommy’s lonely existence. The tone of The Night Alive can be very, very bleak, but the storyteller teases out enough hope to keep viewers optimistic about the characters’ future. Maybe there’s something mystical at work here after all.

The Night Alive runs through Nov. 13 at Round House Bethesda. Tickets ($41-$66) are available online.