The Spring and Fall of Eve Adams
In a recent post, I wrote about Eve Adams’ New york tearoom and her friendship with Henry Miller in Paris. Now I’m pleased to announce that a new play focusing on the life of Eve Adams and written by award-winning playwright Barbara Kahn is set to hit the New York stage on April 15. The following is from the official synopsis:
Synopsis
“The Spring and Fall of Eve Adams recounts the true story of an extraordinary woman who was a victim of homophobia and anti-immigrant hysteria that ultimately led to her death. In 1926 Eve Adams, a Jewish lesbian from Poland, was proprietor of “Eve’s Hangout”, a tearoom at 129 Macdougal Street, where local poets, musicians and actors congregated and shared their work in salon evenings. Eve’s haven of artistic and sexual freedom was soon threatened by religious and governmental authorities, leading to her arrest, imprisonment and deportation. The conflict between progressive and reactionary forces provides the drama in the play as the characters attempt to live and love free from discrimination. The play conveys not only a long forgotten moment in New York history but sheds light on current threats by holding a mirror to the past.”
I have had the opportunity to correspond briefly with Barbara about her play and she informs me that the Henry Miller, June, and Jean Kronski triangle will have a role in the production:
The incomparable June Miller is a character in this play. She is married to Henry, involved with Jean Kronski and a friend of Eve Adams, whose tearoom is near The Pepper Pot where June occasionally works. The play foreshadows Eve’s later relationship with Henry Miller in Paris, where she promotes his books, offering them for sale to English-speaking tourists.
Theater for the New City
The play will run at the Theater for the New City from April 15 to May 2, 2010. The theater is located at 155 1st Ave at 10th St. in New York City. Showtimes are Thursday through Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 3pm. Tickets are $12 and may be purchased on the Theater for the New City’s website. While you’re there, be sure to check out the photos from the site of Eve’s tearoom in 1926.
And if you haven’t visited my post on Eve Adams in a while, be sure to check out the comment posted by Martha Reis. Martha is currently working on a biographical sketch of Eve Adams and her research has turned up a wealth of fascinating new information—including the story of Eve’s immigration to America, her life among American radicals before moving to New York, her involvement in a well-known scene from Tropic of Cancer, and what happened to her under the German occupation of France in WWII. Martha has shared some additional information about Eve with me via email and I feel confident that when the facts are known, this obscure, itinerant bookseller will be revealed as one of the most fascinating characters of the Montparnasse expatriate scene.
4 comments on "The Spring and Fall of Eve Adams"
Cool, wish I was in NYC and could see it. It certainly goes nicely with your other post on Adams. Interesting stuff, wonder what happened to her?
Of course that is the busiest time of year for me. Rats, I’d like to check that out.
FYI – The address is incorrect. Theater for the New City is at 155 1st Avenue, not 55.
Thanks for catching the address error. It’s fixed now.
