The hilarious play following the inner thoughts of the two first humans created in God’s image delights audiences from July 10-28
Hal Linden and Marilu Henner star as the title characters in “The Journals of Adam and Eve: The World’s First Love Story,” opening July 10 at The Sheen Center for an 18-day run.
The story follows the perspectives of Adam and Eve throughout the creation story in Genesis and beyond. Looking into their intertwined personal lives as they come to appreciate the world God has created around them, they explore God’s creation in each other’s company.
The play is originally based on a short story by Mark Twain, “The Diaries of Adam & Eve,” and was adapted into the current version by Ed Weinberger, the mind behind many of the great sitcoms in the 70s through 90s such as “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “Taxi,” where Henner made her name.
The main storyline is the fast connection between Adam and Eve themselves through the lens of the first marriage in history. This is delved into by showing the struggles that come with married life and navigating through the world with no prior experience.
A major focus is placed on the job given to God’s children to give “names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field,” generating many laughs along the way.
The comedy is able to maintain a fun tone throughout, despite the trials and tribulations found in the story of Adam and Eve – even through the couple’s banishment from the Garden of Eden. The pivotal moment in the creation story is shown with necessary gravitas, but Linden and Henner still manage to guide the audience with levity through recurring jokes and observations.
“We believe that with God there is love. Without God, well, that’s for you to decide," MaryLou Pagano, executive director of The Sheen Center, said of the production.
Some performances of the play will be followed by talkback sessions. On July 18, Sheen Center board member and co-host of “The Rev and The Rabbi,” Rabbi Joseph Potasnik will host a discussion after the 7 p.m. showing. Then on July 21, Father Stephen Norton of St. John the Baptist parish in Yonkers will be at the matinee performance at 2 p.m. to lead the question-and-answer session.
“The Journals of Adam & Eve” opens Wednesday, July 10, through Sunday, July 28. Visit The Sheen Center's website for more information and purchase tickets.