Customer Reviews

The Creation of the World and Other Business.

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You probably have read the common abridge version or the lives of Adam and Eve, their conflicts of judgment and their kids. Some scholars have read the full stories that try to justify this point or that point. I am sure you have a few questions yourself about the goings on in The Garden of Eden.

Reading "The creation of the World and Other Business" gives you the feel that you are there and makes it fun identifying the characters and actions. Arthur Miller's play can make you think "what if and did they get it right?"

You will find your self saying "I would have said that" and kibitzing a little as Lucifer discusses the finer points, of how things work or not work, with the other characters.

Carve out some reading time, as you will not be able to put this down.

His Dark Materials Omnibus (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)

In "The Creation of the World and Other Business", Arthur Miller pens a humorous retelling of the Garden of Eden. Copyrighted in the early 70's, it is hard to see this production being performed today for a number of reasons. Yet despite being a lesser known work of the great Arthur Miller, it deserves a look.

Most people are at least somewhat familiar with the story of Adam and Eve. Though Miller takes some liberties with the story, it is reasonably true to the biblical version. While Miller's version is a fictional adaptation, it does provide some potential insights, which are likely false, into the earliest biblical characters. Unlike other adaptations of the story, this satire is humorous.

Though the social conscience of Arthur Miller is usually evident in his work, it is less so in this play. Though it provides insights into the fall of man, it diverges from Miller's typical play which focused in the present. Though out of his comfort zone, "The Creation of the World ..." is a fine achievement.

Dispite a somewhat weak begining, this play reaches a distinct point at which it teeters on the line seperating genius and garbage. In the end, it is a work of genius, it's main attraction being a very unconventional (but entirely convincing) view of Lucifer as he seeks to "corrupt" Yaweh's precious human creations. A brilliant and at times graphic work of role-reversal in which Lucifer becomes a tragic hero.