Ngozi Anyanwu’s Big Brother/Little Sister Tale Moves Us

by Kheven Lee LaGrone

Berkeley Rep’s production of Ngozi Anyanwu’s “The Monsters” seduced me from its beginning. Anyanwu has created an intense, beautifully written sibling love story. While she sets the play in the world of competitive mixed martial arts (MMA), it is not just another sports story. Here, fighting becomes a metaphor for the struggles in a big brother/little sister reunion.

Pleasantly handsome Sullivan Jones delivers a magnificent Big. Six-foot-four and athletically built, Jones projects physical power as he performs MMA moves. He is completely believable as an MMA champion and a confident big brother.

The opening scene stands out, as Jones exhibits his sculpted body, an impactful announcement of his character’s strength and beauty. We want to follow his story.

Big, an aging MMA fighter, has not seen his estranged half-sister, Lil (played by playwright Ngozi Anyanwu) in years. He does not know that she is proudly watching him from a distance. Lil wants to compete like her half-brother.

After he wins a fight, Lil shyly approaches to congratulate Big. He does not recognize her. When she tells him who she is, he does not want to be bothered. He snaps at her that sharing a father is not enough for a sister/brother bond.

The past few years have been tough for them. He feels dehumanized and has become bitter and jaded, but he still wants to be loved and not treated as a “monster.” Lil has not been allowed to be his little sister anymore. She misses it. She is searching for Big, the loving, protective brother of her memories; but he no longer exists. Only the face of a lovable brother remains.

The ‘big brother-little sister’ experience ties them in a unique sibling bond. When they were young, he protected her and gave her guidance. She has never forgotten his love and sees through his tough exterior to his hidden heart.

As Lil, Anyanwu brings comedy to her feisty, yet adorable, character. As a pesky little sister, she knows how to annoy and challenge Big. She fights to retrieve the brother she knew. I laughed and cheered for her.

Skilled director Tamilla Woodard has crafted a strong, detailed, and emotional production. Choreographer Adesola Osakalumi and MMA consultant Sijara Eubanks have designed MMA dances that often communicate better than words. They form the muscle of “The Monsters.” Rather than hugs and proclamations of love, Big and Lil connect through graceful dance-exercises and even fighting.

Two critiques: First, the play goes back-and-forth abruptly in time, which can be confusing. Second, the over-use of the n-word puts me off.

But the surprising revelation at the climax makes it all worthwhile. I love “The Monsters” and I’ve already recommended it to my friends.

“The Monsters” by Ngozi Anyanwu, directed by Tamilla Woodard, choreographed by Adesola Osakalumi, scenic design by Nina Ball, costumes by Celeste Jennings, lighting by Reza Behjat, sound by Bailey Trierweiler&Uptownworks, co-produced with La Jolla Playhouse, at Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Info: berkeleyrep.org – to May 3, 2026.

Cast: Ngozi Anyanwu and Sullivan Jones.

Banner photo: Sullivan Jones (Big). Photos: Kevin Berne