Children of Eden
Thursday night I went to see the Baton Rouge Little Theater production of Children of Eden. I was already in analytical mode because my brother had been to see it already (one of his friends is in the chorus). Analytical mode is a good place to be for this musical. This particular production was very well done. The set and costumes were simple, yet very effective and versatile. The music was just spectacular and this particular cast did it every justice. Just hearing the songs sent shivers up my spine. So what is the problem with this musical? The theology mainly, and a few departures from scripture.
In this musical, God is presented as a Father. This isn't necessarily a problem, but the writers took this analogy way too far. He is also a very helpless God, unable to overcome man's will to accomplish what He wants. I did like the way the problem in Adam's and Noah's families reflected original sin, but I had a real problem when God realizes through Noah that when your children grow up there comes a time that you have to "let them go." Human choice becomes a central theme of the musical, to the point that God's "last hope" is endangered by Japheth's choice of bride. God is also seen to age throughout the musical, his greying hair a result of the waywardness and uncontrollability of man.
The musical also adds to or detracts from scripture in several ways. The Tree is merely the Tree of Knowledge. God never tells them that they will die if they eat it, just that they shouldn't eat it. When Eve does eat it, she must leave the garden because she is no longer an innocent child, not because of sin. The musical follows the Miltonian line that Adam chose to eat the fruit rather than be separated from Eve, which I liked. In the wasteland, Adam and Eve give sacrifices of grain and do not hear from God at all. Cain and Abel are told not to venture above to waterfall by Adam, but they do and make an astounding extra-scriptural discovery. Cain then wants to leave, Adam refuses to allow him and Abel is killed when he tries to keep Cain from slaying Adam. The story of Noah doesn't get such rich addition, but after the flood when the sons separate, Noah tells Japheth that if they find the garden they should eat of the Tree of Knowledge because of the wonders it offers.
I won't give everything away because I do think the musical is worth seeing. It is beautiful and does incite thought on the part of a discerning audience member. However, be forwarned: don't go in ready to swallow it all. And be ready for the ultimate picture of an Armenian God who must "let go" of his children as they grow up.