By Eileen Wingard
LA JOLLA, California — The J Company’s presentation of Children of Eden, a delightful musical by Stephen Schwartz, served as a fitting vehicle for the Company’s talented students–over 100 in two casts. The J Company Director, Joey Landwehr, participated in the performance of the biblical saga as the off-stage voice of the Father. His expressive, authoritative singing lent a professional patina to the production.
The story takes ample liberties with the biblical narrative. To heighten the drama, when Cain kills Abel, Cain actually is intending to attack his father Adam, and Abel comes between them. Eve is witness to the murder and tries to revive her dying son.
In the second act’s Noah story, while two of the sons choose wives who are descendants of Seth, Adam and Eve’s third son, Shem is in love with Yonah, a servant girl from the lineage of Cain. The Father has forbidden any of Cain’s descendants from coming onto the Ark. Noah’s son hides his beloved on the Ark to save her life. The drama becomes intense when she is discovered and Noah has to decide whether to allow her to remain or to throw her overboard. Noah ends up disobeying the Father and blessing the marriage of Shem and Yonah, a far cry from the Genesis story. But, one might argue, that Schwartz is simply creating new Midrash with his fleshing out of these tales.
In Act I, Darien Sepulveda was outstanding as Adam and Lindsey Grant was a convincing Eve, with several beautifully sung solos. David Ahmadian was well-cast as the hot-headed Cain.
In Act II, Daniel Myers was a formidable vocal and acting presence as Noah and Gabriela Lipson was his affable wife. Griffin Danninger displayed his admirable talent as both Seth in Act I and Shem in Act II.
Jesse Carpentier was a dramatic Yonah while the lovely voices of Rebecca Myers and Celia Tedde were heard in roles in both Act I and II.
A memorable orchestral sequence accompanied the array of cleverly-costumed creatures ascending into the Ark. The orchestra was conducted by the show’s excellent Musical Director, Tim McKnight.
Deven P. Brawley choreographed the dances.
Most impressive were the choruses with participants ranging from early elementary school age to high schoolers, all singing their hearts out, with good tone quality, a keen sense of pitch and clear enunciation.
Bravo to the J Company for such an outstanding performance!
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Wingard is a retired symphony violinist and a freelance writer based in San Diego. She may be contacted at eileen.wingard@sdjewishworld.com