←Recommendations of God Sighs

The biblical creation story has been told many times, but seldom is it as funny as this one. Herbert has managed to imbue each of these iconic characters with a unique voice and characteristics that are quite human. The result is both hilarious and thought-provoking. This play was very well received at the Valdez Theatre Conference, and is ready for a full production. The actors and audience will have a blast!

06.20.25 - I saw a hilariously entertaining reading of this play at the Valdez Theatre Conference which introduced me to Jon Herbert's work. This satirical look at the expulsion of Adam and Eve from the Garden is full of unexpected character traits (God ain't so All-knowing, The Serpent quite reasonable, etc) and charm. There are two sides to every story and this one comes with a bonus, the no-nonsense Lilith, a proto-Eve of sorts. This was a delight to hear read and would be even better staged.

Underneath the wit, miscommunication, and all of the hilarious fumbling to do things right is a sincere investigation and attempt at understanding the creation story at the heart of Christianity. Jon Herbert has combined the story with apocrypha (the inclusion of Lilith is such a delightful surprise) and mined it for comedy gold that makes this play both engaging and serious. I was left laughing and thinking throughout the play. An excellent satire that still holds an earnestness at its core.

There are a lot of versions of the myth of Adam and Eve, but few are as creative and grounded as this tale spun by Jon Herbert. God can be a bit of a jerk, Eve wasn't Adam's first wife, and the Serpent presents his case with the slick sales technique that could win over the most doubtful soul. Granted, he had good material -- any story that starts with two naked people and a talking snake is gonna be a hit -- but his in-depth characters rise above the faerie tale world to our own reality.

Come for the breezy comic take on a foundational tale, stay for the philosophical underpinnings. We've seen this story done so many ways, but Herbert's take is uniquely fresh. His Serpent is whip-smart, his Adam basic, and his God a fascinatingly conflicted and self-doubting deity. Of course, Lilith and Eve steal the show. The writing is consistently complex, and the characters inhabit the world of myth while still standing out as textured and relatable. One to think and talk about long after.

A brilliantly original retelling of the Garden of Eden mythology which also incorporates the little-known mythology of Lilith, Adam's assertive first wife. The story of Lilith was told in Jewish writings, but she was somehow airbrushed out of the bible and became a demon (surprise surprise). This play uses humour brilliantly to gently parody the Eden mythologies, which after all underpin modern patriarchy. Such a play could trigger alot of people, but they need triggering. Please stage it!

Holy Hell (pun intended). Jon Herbert's "God Sighs" is a powerful and deep kick in the ass. His witty and comedic language pulls you in and his striking images gut you to your core. God Sighs is an astute retelling of an ancient story, a retelling that reflects upon the story's impact, a retelling that ridicules the patriarchy inherit in this story and religion, and a retelling that humanizes everyone in the story... including a highly fallible God. Read it. Share it. Stage it.