What I liked
Great writing to weave in such a range of emotions. The humor, and timing, and pace were excellent. I was laughing and crying right along with the actors. The puppet shows especially were so funny, yet essential, and never felt out of place alongside such serious themes.
What I didn't like
Some parts of the play where the actors were down on the ground at the front of the stage were difficult to see.
My overall impression
Woman reclaims the Garden of Eden story that has been told about her for millennia. Director Kylee Robinson pivots the familiar narrative of creation and the fall into something far more devastating: a matriarch’s heartbreaking account of holding together a family that’s falling apart in a creation far from “good”. Here, Woman is the one directing the show, the one trying to be the adult while Man bumbles through his newfound existence like a carefree toddler.
With minimal props and nowhere to hide, Laurel Preston as Eve delivers a raw, vulnerable performance that strips you bare right alongside her. Giorgio Rossini portratayal of the simpleton Adam is frustratingly relatable. And London Reid’s stunning range playing both God and the rest of the holy trinity is a must-see. Themes of suicide, rage, existential isolation, along with the production’s thoughtful restraint all serve to amplify the emotional range on display. We’ve never really heard Eve’s story until now. This is it, and it matters.
