Sobriety of Fear depicts a painful story of domestic violence.

Reminds Us Of: Enough, the 2002 J. Lo film about an abused wife who learns to fight back.

Flop, Fine or Fringe-tastic? Fine.

Twenty-five minutes into Sobriety of Fear, the first wow moment arrives: Shaun Johnson, the solo show’s writer and performer, lunges forward, bellowing violently at his unseen wife. “You put onions in the motherfucking sauce!” he screams, so palpably angry that at the first performance, a front-row audience member flinched. Later, he rips off his belt and hurls it to the ground.

Throughout the show, directed by Mediombo Fofana, Johnson rotates among three characters: battered wife Asha, a young, Muslim immigrant; abusive LeRoy; and the couple’s 5-year-old son, Rudy. The set consists of one folding chair and a few props—Rudy’s teddy bears, the knife each spouse at one point clutches, and the alcohol that feeds LeRoy’s rage. The transitions between the three roles feel slightly jarring, and Johnson’s portrayal of young Rudy rings awkward, but especially for the show’s first night, the actor’s performance was impressively polished.

Domestic violence isn’t fun, funny, or entertaining, so the show isn’t—can’t be—any of those things. You have to watch Asha writhe on the floor as she’s being strangled, so close to the front row there’s nearly physical contact. The story is designed to drop audience members into an abusive relationship and make them feel it, with all the heartache and desperation and frustration. Victims of domestic violence often can’t leave, especially at the moments when they most want to, and during this show, audience members can’t either. If you can stomach that for the 50-minute play, it’s worth it.

“Sobriety of Fear” is heavy, unsettling material. But when the lights go dark and Johnson as Asha exits the stage, it’s all but guaranteed you’ll feel genuine worry for her—and an appreciation for the light the show shines on darkness.

Where to See It: St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church

When to See It: Saturday, July 14 at 3:15 p.m.; Thursday, July 19 at 6: 15 p.m.; Tuesday, July 24 at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, July 27 at 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 28 at 9:45 p.m.