Pawtucket's Gamm Theatre has kicked off its season with a keeper, a winning production of "Glengarry Glen Ross," David Mamet's unvarnished look at the world of ruthless real estate salesmen struggling to survive. With crisp direction from Trinity Rep's Fred Sullivan Jr., the show packs a punch.

Of course, Sullivan had great material to begin with. Mamet may have his detractors, but he can write. When performed well, as it is here, Mamet's disjointed dialogue sizzles. It's raw, expletive-laced language, to be sure, but right on the money, just the kind of salty exchanges you might expect from a group of testosterone-charged guys climbing their way to the top.

Mamet, who won a Pulitzer for the play, has conjured up characters that are as fascinating as they are repulsive. You find yourself squirming when slick-talking salesman Ricky Roma zeros in on his mark.

The show opens with veteran Shelly "The Machine" Levene, trying to talk his boss into giving him stronger sales prospects. The boss, John Williamson, tells him he's not performing well enough to deserve better leads, to which Shelly replies he'll never be able to pull himself out of the slump he's in without them. Later in the play, his luck seems to take a turn for the better, in a wonderful scene where he describes an $80,000 closing he made that morning, and how he got the clients to sign on the dotted line.

Next we meet Dave Moss, another veteran salesman, who's trying to talk fellow agent, George Aaronow, into breaking into the office, stealing the leads, and selling them to a competitor.

But it is Tony Estrella's Roma, who steals the opening act. We meet up with Ricky in a Chinese restaurant where he is sweet-talking a fellow customer. He begins by espousing his philosophy of life, which is surprisingly enlightened coming from such a despicable character. Where is the moment, Ricky asks? We are either looking ahead to the future or looking back to the past. All life is a carnival.

Then out comes the brochure for worthless Florida swamp land.

Still, we are drawn to Ricky. He's a charismatic fellow in the hands of Estrella, even though we can't help but be turned off by his sales tactics.

Although Mamet's 1984 play may be set in a real estate office, it could have been about any other pursuit of money. "Glengarry" is a microcosm of American capitalism at its worst, when all moral and ethical considerations have long become victims of greed and deceit.

And it's no surprise to find all the characters in the play are men, for this play is often about what it means to be a man, at least in the eyes of Ricky Roma and company. When Ricky strikes out at Williamson for blowing a sale, he calls him a "fairy," someone not cut out for man's work.

"Who ever told you you could work with men?" Ricky asks him scornfully.

Besides Estrella, who was perfectly oily, other standout performances come from Sam Babbitt as Levene. His long, opening-act plea for better leads is marvelous, a sputtering treat to behold.

Also, Tom Gleadow is terrific as Dave Moss, the mastermind behind the office break-in. That much we know from the outset. What is something of a whodunit twist is who else is in on the scheme.

Marc Dante Mancini did the best he could with the part of Williamson, the sullen office manager whom all the salesmen detest. He has very few words but is on stage a lot, which means he has to keep things tight with rolling eyes and grimaces.

Kelby T. Akin was the whimpering client that Ricky snagged in the restaurant, James Lingk. Akin comes for his money back at one point, and is almost taken in once again by Estrella.

Richard Forbes is the hard-nosed cop investigating the break in, and Chuck Reifler is a high-strung George Aaronow, who feels like a flop as a salesman and a man.

"Glengarry" is a tough, but brilliant play, with a surprising number of funny moments. And chances are you won't see better ensemble work anywhere. Catch it if you can.

"Glengarry Glen Ross" runs through Oct. 3 at the Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre, 172 Exchange St., Pawtucket. Tickets are $40-$25. Call (401) 723-4266, or visit www.gammtheatre.org.