By Mariel Gambino
June 11, 2013. The audience finds themselves transported to the Garden of Eden as Blowing Rock and Boone’s Ensemble Stage presents James Still’s “Searching for Eden”. This heart-warming comedy premieres Saturday, June 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Blowing Rock School auditorium and runs until June 23. A full schedule of performances can be found here.
Ensemble Stage, a nonprofit professional theatre that started in 2009, operates year round and performs anything from comedy to drama to suspense thrillers. A recent achievement of the theatre is the anti-bullying plays performed by the students of Blowing Rock Elementary School.
Summer is the main professional season for Ensemble Stage, and it’s the perfect time to open with a feel-good play such as “Searching for Eden”. This is a play viewable for all ages, but Gary Smith, artistic director for the theatre, explained how the target audience is mid-teens and up.
“It makes it more enjoyable when someone sees themselves or someone they know in a character,” said Smith referring to how viewers can connect with the actor’s roles in the play.
“We’ve got a couple of great actors and it doesn’t feel like you’re watching a play. It feels like you’re eavesdropping on someone’s life,” said Smith. “People will really enjoy the show.”
Adam, played by Andrew Hampton Livingston, starts off the production living in the Garden of Eden alone. Soon after, Eve, played by Jennifer Loadman Harville, sweeps into the garden and they must learn to live together. Adam is not used to having someone else around, and at first it is hard for the two to get along. Yet as time progresses, they realize the importance of having each other around.
Act two begins in the modern world, with Eve as a screenwriting editor and Adam as a marriage counselor. They have both fallen into the hustle and bustle of modern day life, so Adam decides to take Eve back to the Garden of Eden for their anniversary. However, when they arrive, they see that it is now a luxury spa called E. After a little resistance, the two reconnect and fall back into one of the greatest love stories.
“It’s quite funny,” said Smith. “It’s a really nice romantic play that makes you feel good in the end.”
Opening night viewers are welcome to a pre-show reception at 6:45 p.m. to receive complimentary beer, wine and hors d’oeuvres from Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn.
Tickets are $19 for adults, $17 for students and seniors, and $10 for children 16 and under. For more information regarding ticket pricing, Ensemble Stage, “Searching for Eden” or Ensemble Stage’s new reserved seating ticket system, call 828-414-1844 or click here.
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