The Pushover

The Pushover
Chain Theatre
April 10, 2026 

Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

John Patick Shanley’s new play, The Pushover, is intriguing and mysterious.  Burning passion fuels the action, while lust leads to bad decisions.  Or is it the other way around?  The characters struggle to find their way out from under each other’s control, only to run back when they are in need.  Director Kirk Gostkowski guides this small cast of highly skilled actors to dig deep and find the driving impulse that invigorates their character. 

Pearl (played by Di Zhu) is in the first session with her new therapist (played by Christopher Sutton).  She wears white gloves and just came from church.  She is tight with anxiety.  She admits that she is gay, attracted to strong women, and not sure if this new therapist is right for her.  He does get her to take her gloves off and tell him about Evelyn and Soochi. 

The action moves back in time to when Pearl sent Soochi (played by Christina Toth) to a resident resort in New Mexico to deliver a package to Evelyn (played by Rebecca De Mornay).  Evelyn tells Soochi she was excepting her.  Pearl previously contacted Evelyn to tell her that Soochi stole from her.  In the package is a wedding ring that Evelyn gave Pearl with instructions to return it to her if she is ever in need of terminating a relationship.  Evelyn knows what needs to be done, but instead of making Soochi disappear, she puts her to work to earn back the money she stole from Pearl.  When Evelyn visits Pearl to deliver the money, the three women confront one another with their expectations and the hard truth.   

Christopher Sutton, Di Zhu, Rebecca De Morney, & Christina Toth
Photo courtesy of Chain Theatre

Each of the characters have quirks that spark interest.  Pearl is intense and dark.  Evelyn is controlling and self-serving.  Soochi is neurotic and manipulative.  These three actors portray these qualities from their core.  Christina Toth’s Soochi gets more self-destructive as the action progresses.  She is brought to that point by Evelyn’s domination, which Rebecca De Mornay cunningly underplays.  Pearl goes back and forth from victim to persecutor, and Di Zhu plays these shifts with skillful ease.  She is the pushover, constantly being taken advantage of.  She has reached her breaking point; however, it is Evelyn who has the final compelling moment.  It is unexpected, and Rebecca Du Mornay makes it genuine. 

Scenic design by Jackson Berkley makes the Chain Theatre stage feel expansive.  His unit set transforms to different locations with quick changes of furniture.

Chain Theatre continues to build a strong reputation for high quality work with the world premiere of this new John Patrick Shanley play.  It is excellently produced.  

The Pushover has been extended at Chain Theatre through May 2. 

Domenick Danza

Candlelight

 Candlelight
Nylon Fusion Theatre Company
December 13, 2021 

Photo courtesy fo Nylon Fusion Theatre Company

John Patrick Shanley’s Candlelight, is a dark tale of love, hope, and fate.  Directed by Lori Kee, the Nylon Fusion Theatre Company production finds the truthful intimacy of the story, drawing the audience into the innocent needs of the characters. 

Esperanza (played by Ivette Dumeng) is having a party for her tenth birthday.  She dances with Tito (played by Marc Reign).  When she puts her ear to his throat, she can hear his heart speaking to her.  Later in her room, Esperanza lights a candle, and connects to her inner world.  The secrets of her mother’s suicide and her father’s drinking and abuse are revealed as her toys, mirror, and clothing come to life.  

When her father (played by Alfredo Diaz) is arrested, Esperanza is put into a foster home.  Tito confesses his feeling toward Esperanza to his schoolmate, Paulie (played by John Cencio Burgos).  While the two boys share their thoughts, a demon appears.  By facing this demon, Tito and Paulie become closely linked for the unfolding of the journey.  

Ivette Dumeng & Alfredo Diaz
Photo courtesy of Nylon Fusion Theatre Company

Tito follows Esperanza to her foster home.  They agree to meet at the graveyard that night.  Esperanza’s father threatens Paulie to find out where Tito and Esperanza are planning to meet.  Under the stars and in the moonlight, Tito and Esperanza find their fate.

Ivette Dumeng and Marc Reign are wonderful together as Esperanza and Tito.  They are eager and naive, full of hope and energy.  John Cencio Burgos is amazing as Paulie.  He makes you laugh one moment, then follows it with a look that breaks your heart.  These three actors play their ten year old characters with honesty and conviction.  The audience is on their side throughout this very dark journey. 

Marc Reign & John Cencio Burgos
Photo courtesy of Nylon Fusion Theatre Company

Alfred Diaz and Darlene Tejeiro portray harsh realities with the characters of Esperanza’s father and mother.  Esperanza’s world is full of mystery and questions, and these two actors ground the dark fantasies with realistic occurrence that help understand the metaphors.  Christina Toth plays one of Esperanza’s toys that come to life.  She is enigmatic, shifting from light to darkness moment by moment.  Ms. Toth also plays Esperanza’s foster mother.  She carries this dichotomy into that character, bringing the mysterious feeling of this production through to the very end. 

Elizabeth Chaney’s scenic and prop design is smart and creative.  The three set pieces separate, turn, and reconfigure, creating each new location.  The space then opens up to an expansive moonlit graveyard.

Nylon Fusion Theatre Company’s production of John Patrick Shanley’s Candlelight is playing at the New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street) through December 19.  There are only a few performances left, so get your ticket right away! 

Domenick Danza

I Am Your Masseuse

 I Am Your Masseuse
The Bridge Production Group
Brooklyn Navy Yards
August 18, 2021 

I Am Your Masseuse is an evening of five short plays by John Patrick Shanley, presented by The Bridge Production Group.  It is part of the Bridge Residency at the Brooklyn Navy Yards Summer Festival.  These five new works are sharp and funny, and produced with an impeccable eye on detail.  Director Claire Edmonds finds every nuance and effective subtext in Mr. Shanley’s writing.  The cast of four skillfully delivers every laugh with biting witticism. 

Photo courtsey of The Bridge Production Group

Mr. Shanley’s characters take deep and unexpected dives in these new works.  Each piece runs about fifteen minutes.  They are smoothy transitioned.  The actors transform and the mood shifts in a matter of minutes.  Each story starts off simply, then evolves as secrets are revealed and desires are devilishly pursued.  Bonds are broken, fears are faced, and connections are forged at a deeper level, leaving the audience laughing, aroused, and, at times, enlightened.  

Marcus Naylor, Crawford M. Collins, Carlo Albán, and Christina Toth are an amazing ensemble.  They each get a chance to pair off in the five different plays, constantly outdoing themselves in each successive piece.  Their character choices are distinct in each work.  Their timing, focus, and chemistry are consistently top notch. 

I Am Your Masseuse runs for one more night (August 22 at 8:00 PM) at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  Check out The Bridge Production Group’s website for ticket information as well as dates and times for the other shows in their summer festival.  [title of show] runs through August 21.  Get a ticket, make a trip to the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and enjoy a great evening of theatre. 

Domenick Danza