It may have been because of its intimate setting (King’s Head Theatre) but Francesca Goodridge's production Adam and Eve & Steve – which recently transferred to London after its success at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival – is more panto than play.
The title is a bit of a giveaway, this is a production about the biblical creation of man set in the romantic Garden of Eden – with a set cleverly designed by Roberta McKeown given the tight space restrictions. We know how the story goes, God creates man before then making him a mate and so on, but being first introduced to the mischievous Beelzebub (or more commonly known as Satan) during his opening solo debut, It’s All About Me, it is clear that this story may not be so straightforward.
Having been banished from Heaven, Beelzebub (Stephen McGlynn) is angry and feeling hard done to hatches a plan. God has succeeded is creating Adam (Joseph Robinson) but before he can muster up Eve, Satan throws some of his own magic into the mix turning Eve, into an overly camp Steve (Dale Adams). Naturally, God is furious, watching the pair become increasingly comfortable with one another, he tries again – and succeeds this time – in creating Eve (Hayley Hampson).
As the feisty Eve struts on stage tactfully covered with leaves and in hot pursuit of her promised Adam, you can only imagine her disappointment to find him already bewitched by his bromance with Steve. And so battle commences, Eve gets stuck in using her flirtatious curves to woo Adam back to his intended mate but Steve will not let go without a fight, digging in his equally polished fingernails to keep Adam in his grasps. Who will Adam choose, his natural mate or his Ikea furniture fantasy with his best friend?
This is a show not suited for the shy, the leading trio does not hold back flaunting their sexuality and mischievous behaviour – they sing, they dance and they swing. Accents aside, Joseph Robinson perfectly captures the innocence and kind-heartedness of Adam, wanting to have both Steve and Eve and Hayley Hampson blows us away with an Eve who knows just what she wants – a refreshing take on the biblical original. Dale Adams certainly knows how to point into pristine toes and Stephen McGlynn performs admirably as the lost soul of Satan. It is a silly story but one that touches on sensitive topics such as natural selection and the acceptance of homosexuality.
Overall then, a musical that requires a modern sense of humour, it’s a fun production and with a few tweaks could go on to be a much bigger hit.
Adam, Eve & Steve
Playing at the King’s Head Theatre until 29 April 2017
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