By Steve Garfinkel
Throughout history, first couples have fascinated us, some needing only first names to capture our attention, like Franklin and Eleanor or Nikolas and Alexandra. Perhaps none so much, however, as “the” first couple, Adam and Eve. What were their hopes, their dreams, their fears? This September, San Miguel audiences will find out as the Jewish Cultural and Community Center of San Miguel de Allende (JC3) presents a One-Evening-Only staged reading of Mark Twain’s “The Diaries of Adam and Eve,” adapted by David Birney. Offered at 7pm on Thursday, September 8, 2022, at the JC3, the evening also features a wine-and-snacks social from 6:30-7:00.
Guaranteeing both laughs and touching moments, Mark Twain’s wry, spot-on observations of the human condition shine in this theater piece created from his works. Written 15 years apart—Adam’s in the 1890s and Eve’s in early 20th century—the two diaries have been woven together by actor David Birney into a captivating evening of many “firsts”: the first woman, first man, first fire, birth, death, and many others.
It’s fitting that this play of firsts will initiate a new series of staged readings to be presented by JC3, with two more planned for November and December. Bringing the play to life are San Miguel actors Lee Duberman and Gene Harvey.
Lee Duberman, playing Eve, has been acting in, directing, and choreographing plays and musicals for over 40 years. She attended the theater program at Northwestern University and studied with Uta Hagen in New York City. Lee later graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and moved to Vermont to teach at the New England Culinary Institute, eventually opening four successful restaurants with her husband Richard Fink, at the same time continuing to act and direct in regional and summer theater in Vermont. On moving to San Miguel, Lee became a board member of San Miguel Playhouse. In San Miguel she has directed “Little Shop of Horrors” and “The Nona Show” and acted in “The Roommate” at the Playhouse in 2019. Lee is the Chef and owner of Casa Papaya San Miguel.
Gene Harvey, playing Adam, is an alumnus of Arizona State University who retired to San Miguel de Allende in February 2020. Before retiring, he was known for roles in such plays as “All My Sons” and “Summer and Smoke.” Since arriving in San Miguel, he has returned to the stage, being cast in the short play, “The Fifth Wall,” in San Miguel’s 2022 Summer Shorts and was most recently seen as Miles in the San Miguel Playreaders July readings of Norm Foster’s “My Narrator” at the Santa Ana Theater. In addition are his passion for the congregations of San Miguel and Phoenix, Arizona, and other volunteer work; he also has a music-related YouTube channel.
For more information, see the JC3/CHESMA website at shalomsanmiguel.org, or call 415 185 9191.
