MAC Playreading: Eden 2.0 by Kimberley Shimer
According to the biblical story in Genesis, Eve cursed both herself and Adam when she insisted he try the fruit from the forbidden tree in the Garden of Eden. But what if, in fact, Adam was to blame? What if a lie and a supposed video glitch wrongly convicted Eve, leading to millennia of gender inequality? Can a present-day intern at the Command Center in "Almost Heaven, West Virginia" make things right?
Playwright: Kim Shimer
Director: Julie Zaffarano
Cast (Order of Appearance)
Lee/Brantley Deville: Ryan Walden
Adam/Jimmy: Andrew SanFilippo
Eve/Aundreia: Brittany K. Fauzer
Carl: David Swartz
Peggy: Courtney Boches
God: Anthony SanFilippo
Stage Directions: Theresa Swartz
Questions for the Artist: Kim Shimer:
What do you hope the viewer feels after the event (seeing the work)? Mostly, I want the audience to be entertained and amused, but if you come away from it thinking about the Bible and Christianity's contributions to gender inequality, that'd be great, too!
What technical parts of your work interested you in making this piece and you'd like the viewer to look out for? (so for a painter it may be a certain brushstroke, a writer a certain characters voice, a musician a certain musical phrase) My goal was to address a serious topic through humor. I'd like the audience to see how/if I accomplished that.
Is there any other work of art you would suggest to the viewer to experience either before or after your event? If you're not familiar with the biblical story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, it might be helpful to read Genesis 2:4 - 3:24. My inspiration for Eden 2.0 came from The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd, in which she creates the story of Ana, the wife of Jesus. If you enjoy my reading, you'd probably enjoy that novel!
The Media Arts Council Play Reading Series was created by playwrights Julie Zaffarano, Dave Ebersole, and Keenya Jackson, in partnership with MAC to create a space for local playwrights to hear their work read by talented actors and receive feedback from a public audience. The only regular new play reading series in the area, it brings exciting new stories from exciting writers to Delaware County.
Playwrights, actors, and directors who are interested in being involved in the series should contact Julie Zaffarano, juliezaffarano@gmail.com. Due to the limited budget for this project, we are unable to offer actors or directors a stipend through the MAC.