Robby Robertson
The Athens Review
Athens — The Henderson County Performing Art Center and Entourage Media present “The Apple Tree,” the first show in the Black Box Series for 2010.
Performance dates are Friday, March 12 through March 14 at 7 p.m.
The show is directed by Dennis Gilmore, and features music by Jerry Bock. It is based on stories by Mark Twain.
The musical opened on Broadway on Oct. 18, 1966 at the Shubert Theater, and ran for 463 performances. It was produced by Stuart Ostrow, directed by Mike Nichols, and stared Barbara Harris, Alan Alda and Larry Blyden.
The HCPAC version stars Danny Servetnick as Adam, Rebecca Barker as Eve, and Rustin Pool as The Snake.
Each act has its own story line, but all three are tied together by a common theme (someone who believes that they want something, but once they get what they wanted, they realize that it wasn’t what they wanted), and common references, such as references to the color brown.
The first act is based on Twain’s “The Diary of Adam and Eve.” The second act is based on Frank R. Stockton’s “The Lady or the Tiger?” The third act is based on Jules Feiffer’s “Passionella.”
In the first story, Adam is awakened to find that he is required to name all of the animals. Then, he meets Eve, the “long-haired creature” in the garden. Eve greatly enjoys her time “Here in Eden,” and begins to name everything with more detailed names: cows, ducks, horses, etc. Adam becomes annoyed with Eve, and she hurts his feelings by thinking that she is superior to him.
Soon, a snake appears. The snake appears to know everything, and tells Eve that she can know everything, too, as long as she eats the apples from the tree over the hill – the tree that Adam told her was forbidden.
Once the couple is out of Eden, they become closer. They now need each other more, and have come to tolerate each other's weaknesses. Soon, Eve has their first child, Cain, but Adam thinks that "It's a Fish.” Eve sings the baby a "Lullaby,” and soon they have another son, Abel.
The second story takes place in a somewhat barbaric kingdom. The story is told by a balladeer, who says "I'll Tell You a Truth" about love and jealousy. He introduces us to King Arik and his daughter, Princess Barbara, who enter a great banquet ("Make Way") that is being held. They show a traditional trial.
They discuss their “Forbidden Love,” and consider running away to Gaul. They realize that their place is here, and while they are stealing a kiss, King Arik walks in, and catches them. King Arik sentences Sanjar to a trial, much to Barbara's dismay.
In the final story, we are introduced to a chimney sweep, Ella. This story is told by a narrator. Ella sings about the perils of being a chimney sweep, and how great it would be to be famous.
One day, Ella comes home to find that her television is not working. Suddenly, her Friendly Neighborhood Godmother (also the narrator) appears, and grants her “her most cherished wish.”
For reservations call the theater at 903-675-3908. There are five Black Box Series productions scheduled for this year.
