Treatment - The Diary of Adam and Eve by pescif

THE DIARY OF ADAM AND EVE An Opera in One Act

Based on the writings of Mark Twain Treatment by Frank Pesci Libretto and Music by Frank Pesci

First Draft: Köln Bayenthal, 16 September 2015

CHARACTERS Principal Roles (2 Singers) EVE (Soprano) The first woman, whom we meet the day after she has been created. ADAM (Tenor) The first man, who has been living contentedly alone in Eden for some time. The Garden (3 players) Flute, doubling Piccolo and Alto Flute Viola Harp

The action begins in the Garden of Eden, shortly after EVE’s creation, and leading up to the Fall, which ADAM witnesses from outside the Garden’s walls. After the Fall, the remainder of the action takes place in the empty area outside the Garden, which is still visible in the distance. The action is broken up by changes in the GARDEN that indicate the passage of time through a single day. Time, however is much more fluid, and the scenes themselves – even the action within a scene – could take place over be minutes, months, or decades.

DAWN Shortly before dawn, ADAM crawls from the underbrush. Looking around cautiously, HE remarks on the peculiarities of the “new creature,” who has broken from the ranks of the other animals, and follows HIM around incessantly. HE melts back into the bush to hide. As the GARDEN begins to murmur in the dawn’s light, EVE basks in the growing warmth of the sun. Today, SHE is one day old. Excitedly, SHE expresses that SHE feels like an experiment. “Today, everything looks better than yesterday!” She runs off in excitement. “My life is not as happy as it was,” pouts ADAM as he slinks from the brush. The new creature talks incessantly. This new sound follows him everywhere; it is always so close, right at his shoulder, right at his ear… Suddenly, SHE appears behind HIM. SHE tries to be stealthy, but is young and ungainly, and gives HERSELF away. With a gasp, HE runs off, climbs up a tree, and scowls. Waiting for HIM to come out of the tree, SHE recounts that while observing “the other experiment,” SHE considered the possibility that it is a Man, though she cannot be sure. SHE finds HIM fascinating, but get gets bored of waiting for HIM to come down from the tree, and heads off. ADAM carefully crawls out of the tree and runs off in the opposite direction. MORNING The GARDEN transforms from a pink dawn into a golden morning. ADAM sits on a bluff, looking at the gathering clouds in the west. HE forecasts “…we will have rain.” We? Where did that word come from? Exasperated, HE realizes that the new creature uses it… EVE sits beneath the bluff, watching HIM. SHE recounts HER efforts to get acquainted, doing all the talking (because HE is shy), and using the sociable “we” to make HIM feel included. HE sees her and stomps off. Irritated at yet another snub, SHE grabs a couple of nearby sticks and begins to aimlessly rub them together. One begins to smoke. Amazed, SHE rubs them together vigorously. More smoke begins to rise and SHE dances with it, delighted. With a strong strike of the sticks, they explode into flame. Completely surprised and excited by the development, SHE waves the burning sticks wildly and inadvertently sets the jungle on fire. ADAM comes running, and stops in HIS tracks, mesmerized by the light and color. “What is it?” HE asks. SHE thinks for a moment and names it, “Fire.” HE looks at HER and says, “Where did it come from?” “I made it.” Not believing HER, HE turns and walks away. SHE runs after HIM and grabs HIS arm. Before HE can protest, SHE pleads that HE understand that SHE is a creature at whose core is a passion for beauty, and a love of the beautiful. SHE lets go, and sheepishly walks away to watch the fire as it fades into the GARDEN.

HE watches HER, confused. At a loss for words, HE remarks that the new creature eats too much fruit. “We are going to run out.” WE again! HE warily looks back at HER. HE remarks that earlier, HE saw HER trying to get apples out of the forbidden tree. AFTERNOON In the GARDEN, a golden morning settles into an orange afternoon. Split Stage: Down Left, ADAM recounts that EVE has revealed HER name, and claimed that SHE is a “she,” not an “it.” HE doubts this. Down right, EVE expresses confusion over his indifference toward the revelation of her name and gender. SHE wonders why he talks so seldom – perhaps he is not bright, but brightness is nothing; it is in the heart that values lie. ADAM tries to give the benefit of the doubt. SHE is young, after all, but HER eagerness and excitability has no practical value. If she would only take a moment to be quiet, it would be a “reposeful spectacle.” HE realizes that SHE is beautiful. EVENING The GARDEN’s orange afternoon melts into a red evening. BOTH enter in the midst of a huge argument. HE accuses HER of taking up with the snake, SHE berates him for having no heart for the other creatures in the GARDEN. And why would the snake lie? It says that the fruit of the forbidden tree will yield a fine and noble education. HE has been told that this “education” is “death,” and death has not yet entered the GARDEN, which is a pity on some accounts. SHE is hurt and angry. HE tells her to keep away from the tree; SHE says she won’t. HE is leaving HER. Alone, SHE is wracked with grief and guilt. HE is gone, like the moon, which, SHE recalls, was lost the night before. SHE watched it slide below the horizon and disappear. SHE mourns the loss and wishes for its return. Outside the GARDEN, ADAM is happy to be alone. All of a sudden, the beasts around him turn on each other, ripping each other to shreds. HE barely escapes back to the edge of the GARDEN with his life. HE finds HER there. After a moment of mutual relief, they embrace.

DUSK In the barren land outside the GARDEN, the red evening settles into a purple dusk. BOTH are near each other, exhausted after long work, and alone in their thoughts. Before the fall, EVE sings, the GARDEN was a like a dream to her. Although she has lost the GARDEN, she has found HIM and is content ADAM observes EVE, and thinks to himself that SHE is a good companion, and HE would be lonesome and depressed without HER. SHE can’t put her finger on why SHE loves HIM – it’s not HIS singing voice, intellect, HIS gracious and considerate ways, or HIS industriousness, all of which come and go. SHE loves him because HE is HERS, and because HE is masculine. ADAM goes further – HE was wrong about HER in the beginning. HE cannot imagine losing the sound of HER voice now. ADAM falls asleep, and EVE moves to a private place to pray. SHE prays that they pass from life together, but if one must die first, SHE prays that it be HER. “HE is strong, and life without HIM would not be a life.” This is HER prayer as a wife, and for all wives that come after HER. She glances back at HIM as darkness envelops HER. Slowly, ADAM rouses. He strokes the place where SHE was laying next to him. From under HIS pillow, HE pulls an old fig leaf. “Wherever SHE was,” HE sings, “there was Eden.” He holds the fig leaf to his chest as the light fade out. END OF THE OPERA