In the Beginning

What I liked

Laurel Preston’s performance was fantastic. She was so honest and grounded despite the over the top set up and world. A true tour-de-force performance.

What I didn't like

This show was just not for me.

That being said, I understand that some pieces of art are not for everyone, and just because I did not connect with it, it doesn’t take away from the hard work of everyone involved. I celebrate your commitment to your vision and everyone’s boldness in this piece.

Below are the reasons why this did not land well with me.

I struggled with the tone. I understand this was aiming to be a scathing satire deconstructing the myth of Adam and Eve, but the humor was just not landing for me. I felt very uncomfortable through out and cringed rather than laugh at a lot of the humor.

I struggled w the amount of nudity, which made the show hard to watch and it distracted from their performance and the content rather than elevate it. I deeply disliked the choice of giving him a thong for the entire show, even when they had been vanished out of paradise. It felt quite exploitative to me.

While I love a good feminist take, I struggled with how much the writer decided to make Adam an idiot instead of a nuanced character, particularly at the top of the play. I felt the play actually became more compelling once the characters left the paradise. I wish this play was more layered and incisive, the arch and flat concept of “Adam is dumb, Eve is smart” made the message of the play feel too simplistic.

I struggled to understand Eve’s conflict with God in the paradise and felt her decision to eat the fruit was not set up very well. I wish the writer had leaned deeper into themes of free will and temptation rather than just exploiting the idea that Eve is jealous that God gives Adam more attention.

My overall impression

This show was not for me, but I commend the boldness behind both the directorial choices and the actors performances.