“Calderon writes florid, rapid-fire New Yorkese, which is necessary because his characters’ gift of gab is all they have. Yet it all feels a little forced, as if the play was going down a checklist of tough-guy tropes...The best dramas dealing with violence use it to uncover greater truths about human nature. No such revelation happens in ‘Divine Horsemen,’ whose petty ruffians somehow make tragedy feel small.”
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"This high-stakes drama is jam-packed with fast-paced banter...To be clear, zipping from wit to explosive violence is quite the feat, and the ensemble meets the challenge...But when you take away the punches, the New Yorkese, and the over-abundance of machismo, there isn't much else...A production showcasing toxic masculinity and ableism without any self-reflection makes for an awkward participant in the conversation of current events."
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"Calderon's script piques our interest from the very beginning. He also plays the intimidating Willie and has the audience in the palm of his hand from his first entrance, completely comfortable on stage and within his body. Every performer in this play was outstanding...All in all, 'Divine Horsemen' is at once interesting and heartbreaking, and well worth the experience."
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“Though it feels like every other mob story, 'Divine Horsemen’ tells an engrossing story with sensational actors. It's easy to get swept up in the action and go along for the ride...While the play doesn’t delve very deeply into the characters’ motivations, it covers a spectrum of themes...It is an incredible delight to see such compelling actors onstage together....An intriguing portrayal of hungry men on the down-and-out side of life.”
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"Calderon’s dialogue captures the cadences and embellishments that distinguish New York Street-speak. He and Zayas make the most of their staccato exchanges and imagistic monologues...For all its vitality, 'Divine Horseman' is still in a raw stage of its development. It needs a more even pace, and a smoother execution of its fight choreography. Most likely, though, if the production gets the longer, better-funded run it deserves, these rough edges will correct themselves."
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"The play explores morality among unapologetic men. Their downfall is precipitated by what they perceive as weakness and how they attempt to protect themselves. Zayas paints his strength with vulnerability...Deblinger’s Raffi has the exuberance of a proper show-stopper, but captures the poetry of the piece with a striking immediacy. Calderón has realized an authentic and complex piece in a limited setting."
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"Calderon’s staging possesses a thoughtfully constructed sense of unease that undeniably provokes urgency. Although the narrative often seems a little slight, the tension is beautifully rendered...The drama’s dialogue is intimate and strangely organic, with patter that is full of profanity and brittle edge...It’s the character work that ultimately carries the piece: The repartee between Zayas’s surprisingly subtle Iffy and Calderon’s brutish Willie is particularly compelling."
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