Interludes

VIEWPOINTS – Women as tough as nails in John Patrick Shanley’s THE PUSHOVER and Libby Carr’s CALF SCRAMBLE

• By drediman
• April 9, 2026
• No Comments

Then currently Off-Broadway, you’ll find a pair of uncompromising — albeit uneven — new dramas by John Patrick Shanley and Libby Carr, respectively, that depict women across a spectrum of ages who are, despite their flaws, tough as nails. As per usual, read on for my thoughts.

THE PUSHOVER
Chain Theatre
Through May 2

Earlier this week, the world premiere production of The Pushover (SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED) by Pulitzer Prize-winner John Patrick Shanley (Doubt, Moonstruck) opened Off-Broadway courtesy of the Chain Theatre. Set largely in two locales — an upscale spa-focused residence in New Mexico and a hole-in-the-wall Asian restaurant in Queens, New York — the play centers on the turbulent romantic love triangle between three vastly different types of women (a sentimental pushover, a domineering hard ass, and a subservient addict). Currently more an underbaked character study than it is a cohesive piece of theater, it becomes clear rather quickly that their relationships are fueled by malicious manipulation and toxic codependency, which infuses some dark, intermittently interesting psychological drama — as well as some forced comedic situations — into the combative, often shouty proceedings. Indeed, Shanley’s intent here seems to be to pen a sort of female version of David Mamet’s foul-muted Glengarry Glen Ross. Themes of good and evil are telegraphed boldly by a trio of intense and intentionally broad performances by Rebecca De Mornay, Di Zhu, and Christina Toth — each of whom commit themselves admirably throughout. The whole thing — despite being competently staged by director Kirk Gostkowski — largely still registers as a work in progress, namely in its continued endeavor in shaping convincing relationships between the three women. Currently, unfortunately, the dynamics between them come across more nonsensical than quirky. All that being said, it’s refreshing to see a new play very much about highly sexual women of a certain age behaving badly — still a rarity in this day and age, alas.

CALF SCRAMBLE
Primary Stages at 59E59 Theaters
Through April 12

Before closing this coming weekend at 59E59 Theaters, I’m glad I was able to catch Primary Stages’ wonderfully-acted production of Calf Scramble (RECOMMENDED), Libby Carr’s pseudo-metaphorical new play about five defiant and resilient teenage girls who come of age in East Texas, where evangelical Christianity and financial struggles are the drivers behind their brash adolescent actions and evolving sense of self-worth. More specifically, the play is set in a ranch where these young women take it upon themselves — some more seriously than others — to each raise their own calf for the chance to take home competitive prize money. As the tensions between them escalate and their identities and motivations are increasingly crystallized, the playwright does an impressive job of keeping the storytelling fiercely idiosyncratic without being reductive, even if the overarching themes and emotions that emerge are likely to be familiar to most people. Much credit must go out to director Caitlin Sullivan, who has ingeniously staged the piece on Cate McCrea’s terrifically resourceful set— evocatively lit by Barbara Samuels — in a manner that’s kinetic, artful, and raw. Kudos must also go to the production’s quintet of distinctive and lived-in performances — courtesy of Ferin Bergen, Maaike Laanstra-Corn, Marvelyn Ramirez, Elisa Tarquinio, and Gabriela Veciana — which land with authenticity and, at times, unexpectedly startling force. Indeed, these are young actresses to definitely keep an eye on. Even more impressive is that they also double as the befuddled calves the characters are rearing for competition — perhaps a heavy-handed but nonetheless potent reflection on how they themselves are being judged against the strict normative expectations of the region.