D. A. Mindell's play, On the Evolutionary Function of Shame, revolves around siblings Adam and Eve at their father's birthday party, highlighting strained family dynamics. The porcelain bowl Adam carries, initially believed to be a dip plate, symbolizes deeper themes of shame and brokenness, especially when he inadvertently shatters it during a heated argument. The play draws parallels with the biblical narrative of Adam and Eve post-expulsion from Eden, but the connections between characters and symbols often feel muddled and lack cohesive development, ultimately undermining the intended themes of shame.
The play often feels like an ill-fated kitchen endeavor, both over- and underbaked, hinting at deeper thematic elements that don't fully resonate.
The shattered bowl symbolizes Adam's turmoil, representing not just familial tensions, but also the broader concept of shame that pervades the narrative.
Collection
[
|
...
]