THREE LOVES, ONE ROAD

A gritty, intriguing country-western musical
with more implied than explained

COMPOSER-LYRICIST/GUITARIST/PROTAGONIST
A musician with three younger ladies to romance,
two deaths to deal with,
and one rough life on the road

It’s a little confusing, more than a bit intriguing, and plenty gritty and gutsy. Not everything is spelled out in crystal-clear ways in the Crystal Field presentation of the Frog & Peach Theatre Company’s premiere of Three Women at downtown’s Theater for the New City, where Field is Executive Director. This country-western musical has music and lyrics written by Ted Zurkowski, who appears in the show as Billy (the protagonist), a traveling musician, interacting with the other characters without putting down his guitar or meandering far from his location on stage right, with drummer Denny McDermott and bassist Paul Page. Songs serve as a kind of narrative, exposition, commentary, and catharsis. These numbers (not listed by title in the printed program) remark on the taxing lifestyle of a touring entertainer away from home, family ties that bind or are bound to take their toll, personal demons, coming to terms with disappointments and deaths, and—as the title tells us—three women in his romantic life.

A bed is center stage, and those three women sit, recline, pose on it, or sashay around as they demonstrate their quite different personalities and perspectives. Rather lively and seeming to be two or more decades younger than Mr. Zurkowski as Billy, they also are contrasts to his more world-weary, burdened persona and look. (The casting notice seen online stated that the company was looking for women between the ages of 30 and 50 for two of these roles, but these actresses “read” toward the lower range.) These females are: Gina Simone Pemberton, playing Billy’s wife, Bonnie, demonstrating a commanding presence and rich vocals; Erica Cafarelli as the girlish late-night diner waitress Ruby; and Kaylyn Buehler as a character referred to just as “Lady.” Monogamy (or even “serial monogamy”) being a priority, we glean that none of Billy’s relationships are—at least currently—idyllic, passionate, or rich with warmth and effusive affection. Perhaps it’s about comfort, convenience, company, habit, or just plain old lust.

The intermissionless musical is directed by Lynnea Benson, co-founder and Artistic Director at Frog & Peach Theatre, along with Mr. Zurkowski. She also directed his play College Fun, in which Mr. Still and Ms. Cafarelli appeared.

More is implied with attitude and body language than is stated in detail with actual words. But a fair amount of those words got lost due to some tech/sound issues at the opening night performance attended (Saturday, April 18). Sometimes the instrumental sounds obscured sung lines. So, as far as story (and backstory), there may be more there than meets the ear.

A mix of true dedication, duty, and despair whirl around the emotional scenes as Billy returns home to Nashville, where his brother Jake (the sympathetic DazMann Still) is a cause of concern. He’s not functioning or coping well—whether that’s due to psychological challenges, drug/alcohol habits, life in general, or some combination—and Billy and their parents are supportive but saddened. Elizabeth Ruf and Steve Taylor, as the mother and father, bring gravitas and dignity.

As life goes on, with its inevitable cycles and woes, the saga might be expected to sag, but—surprisingly—bidding farewell forever to one character cues an irreverently uptempo, hand-clappable, thigh-slappable doozy of a country semi-jubilee. Indeed, there are some attractive melodies very much in the genre’s traditions, both the languid and the lively. While some lyrics lean toward the simple, with repetition of key lines, there’s a real-deal feel to this unpretentious fare. And a metaphysical moment of theatricality lets the dearly departed be visible to the audience for posthumous thoughts. And, in its own way, Three Women offers food for thought as the audience gets to eavesdrop on actions and thoughts, while the bassist and drummer—remaining on stage throughout but not interacting directly with Billy’s family or the women—serve as witnesses.

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Three Women
Theater for the New City
Johnson Theater, 155 First Ave @ East 10th St, New York
Thurs, Fri & Sat at 8; Sun at 3
ends on May 3, 2026
for tickets ($15-$20), visit Ovation Tix

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