Lilith

by Allan Havis

In the Garden of Eden and crosscutting to New York, the enactment and re-enactment of Adam, Lilith, and Eve take the stage as the two women confront one another and the very identify of metaphysical woman. A love triangle which defies the heavens, supernatural Lilith will not willingly disappear from this world.“Before there was Eve there was Lilith. In his new play, LILITH, Allan Havis has placed Adam’s legendary first wife at the center of a parable about marriage. Springing Lilith loose in our age, the play is as devious as it is diabolical. The first act is in biblical times, the second in present-day New York, but the distinction is not intended to be clear-cut … Mr Havis weaves an intricate web of lustfulness and deceit … The sardonic language could have been written by a contemporary counterpart of the Swedish playwright [Strindberg] … As in his earlier plays, MINK SONATA and MOROCCO, Mr Havis shows a mordant wit, used this time to ask the question, who is Lilith and what is her fatal attraction.” —Mel Gussow, The New York Times

Paperback

First published April 1, 1991

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I feel about this play. Written in 1990, it involves at least the suggestion of child seduction and molestation. It may feel different on stage, but I was quite uncomfortable (and it takes a lot for me to be uncomfortable with a piece of art). I did like the spare language and the characterizations were interesting.