Calvaria: A Play for Feral Girls

by Maggie Smith

When her family’s bull is found decapitated in the middle of a farm field, Edie Hruska makes it her mission to find the culprit. While on her search, she comes across a group of young girls claiming to communicate with gods, begging Edie to become their newest acolyte. While acclimating to their lifestyle, Edie finds herself face-to-face with the girls’ true intentions, and they are much more sinister than just...

When her family’s bull is found decapitated in the middle of a farm field, Edie Hruska makes it her mission to find the culprit. While on her search, she comes across a group of young girls claiming to communicate with gods, begging Edie to become their newest acolyte. While acclimating to their lifestyle, Edie finds herself face-to-face with the girls’ true intentions, and they are much more sinister than just a dead bull.

CALVARIA is the winner of the 2024-2025 Margaret W Martin Award/Joining Sword & Pen Competition, chosen by Babes with Blades Theatre Company.

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Calvaria: A Play for Feral Girls

Recommended by

  • Jack Levine: Calvaria: A Play for Feral Girls by Maggie Smith
    “

    MAGGIE SMITH’s full-length play, “Calvaria: A Play For Feral Girls”, is a fascinating story of a group of young girls, who are trying to make the world better. I found myself totally engrossed throughout and strongly believe an audience will also be totally engaged. There are so many levels to this play. There are strong and penetrating personalities, which will be a wonderful challenge and opportunity for female actors. Nobody will leave the theater without being emotionally impacted.

    MAGGIE SMITH’s full-length play, “Calvaria: A Play For Feral Girls”, is a fascinating story of a group of young girls, who are trying to make the world better. I found myself totally engrossed throughout and strongly believe an audience will also be totally engaged. There are so many levels to this play. There are strong and penetrating personalities, which will be a wonderful challenge and opportunity for female actors. Nobody will leave the theater without being emotionally impacted.

    ”

Character Information

As a writer, I am dedicated to creating diverse worlds onstage. Some of the most defining moments of my life involve me seeing myself represented onstage, television, or in literature. Because of this, I highly recommend casting this play diversely in regards to race and disability. You won’t be depicting the real world if you ignore this request.

This is acknowledging, however, that some roles are specificin the way they are written and must be cast. In this play, the following roles have these limitations:

- All roles must be played by women. However, this does not mean that you should only cast cisgender women— Womanhood is an expansive word, and anyone who feels comfortable portraying such an experience should feel empowered to perform this piece.
  • EDIE
    Sincere, makes the lonely feel seen, filled with courage that can only come from someone who’s never seen violence
    16
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • MARTY
    Charismatic, means every word she says, believes in a better world, no matter what you see
    17
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • AMALIA
    Edie’s sister and guardian; incredibly protective out of fear, not your friend, not your mother
    22
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • BERTHA
    Marty’s right-hand; sarcastic, tired, and smarter than you
    17
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • DONNA
    Dragged along into this, looking for a home, doesn’t know what she believes
    16
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • RUTH
    A peacekeeper, on-edge, desperately wants to do good
    17
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman
  • KATHLEEN
    All talk, desperately wanting to seem tougher than she is
    14
    Female
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      Teens,
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Woman

Development History

  • Reading, Babes with Blades Theatre Company, 2025

Awards

  • Margaret W. Martin Award/Joining Sword & Pen Competition
    Babes with Blades Theatre Company
    Winner
    2024