2 out of 5 stars

John Patrick Shanley deserves credit for always creating edgy characters who have drama written all over them -- literally. In “The Pushover,” the playwright serves up a love triangle of such types. Namely, two bad girls -- make that bad women (Rebecca De Mornay, Christina Toth) -- and a vulnerable chef (Di Zhu) who falls prey to their machinations and yet can’t let them go because of her pushover nature. The problem: The play is more talk than plot -- and the talk has far too many platitudes to feel realistic enough. Plus, the often wooden performances don’t elevate matters. — Charles Passy

At the Chain Theatre, through April 26; chaintheatre.org. (Review date: April 6, 2026)