‘Eden’ cast, crew reflect on composer’s influence

Kimberley McGee

Friday, March 23, 2001 | 9:44 a.m.

What: "Children of Eden"

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, through April 14 (dark Sundays, Mondays and April 11).

Where: Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center, 1771 Inner Circle Drive.

Tickets: $15 general admission; $13 for seniors and students, Monday through Thursday; $18 general admission, $15 and $13 for side seating, $16 for seniors and students, Friday and Saturday.

Information: 878-7529.

The musical "Children of Eden" begins, well, at the beginning.

Set to the music of Academy Award-winner Stephen Schwartz and based on the book by John Caird, "Children of Eden" opens Saturday at the Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center.

The two-act play depicts the first nine stories from the Bible's book of Genesis.

Although based on biblical stories, the play is about endurance and faith, not religion, local director Leslie Fotheringham said.

"You can say it's a church show, but it's not affiliated with any religion," she said. "It's uplifting, joyous and it sends a powerful message."

And it's not a sermon. The play depicts characters that audiences can still relate to, she said, in stories that are part of popular culture, such as Adam's grapple with the apple and Noah's voyage on the rising waters of the 40-day flood.

In 1996 Schwartz met with the Las Vegas Academy, one of a handful of groups that has presented the musical since its London premiere in 1991.

Fotheringham recalls standing in the wings of the Academy's theater admiring Schwartz as he tickled the ivories of a piano onstage and talked with the students in the cast, one of whom was her daughter.

"I was shocked at how down to earth he was," she said of Schwartz. "I knew I wanted him to meet this cast (of the current production) and that he probably would, if he could."

And he did.

Following a concert at UNLV's Artemus Ham Hall in January, Schwartz sat down for dinner and an hourlong discussion with the cast.

Actress and singer Satomi Hofmann, who plays Eve and Mama (Noah's wife) in the play, was enlightened by Schwartz's input.

"He said that Eve is not tempted by sexuality or evil," Hofmann said. "She is tempted by the extensive sophistication the snake has to offer."

Eve has been depicted in history as an unwitting villain, she said. This play offers a thoughtful perspective on the first woman's sinful decision.

"She is a woman who recognized she had to take action in order to give us as a spiritual race the opportunity to grow," Hofmann said. "If she did not eat the apple, mankind would be in stasis."

Hofmann starred as Morgana and Bess opposite Michael Crawford in "EFX" at the MGM Grand. She signed on to "Children of Eden" because of its range of music and inspiring message.

"This show makes you think about that we have the power to choose our path, and we make choices every day that affect people around us that we don't even realize."

Her co-star, Geoffrey Bennett, was at first reluctant to join the musical.

The actor of 20 years, who works at the Excalibur as lead puppeteer for Errol Manoff's Fantasy Factory, had always liked musicals but found them unfulfilling as an actor.

After he heard the music and the message of "Eden," he changed his tune.

"I put myself at their feet and I apologized because I found not all musicals are trite," Bennett said.

He also found parallels to his own life within the play -- the past holds lessons, he said.

"I didn't think the show would have such an effect on me, but it's really moving," he said.

Kimberley McGee

is an Accent feature writer. She can be reached at mcgee@lasvegassun.com or 259-4096.