Sheffield University Theatre Company's version of Milton's epic poem is an intellectual tour de force. The language is wonderfully expressive but requires concentration to follow the posited arguments.
Satan and the other rebel angels lost the war in Heaven and have been cast down into Hell by God. Satan, having been tipped off by Beelzebub, sets herself a goal of destroying Earth with the help of her new buddies Sin and Death who guard the Gates o
f Hell.
Soon Eve has been tempted with forbidden fruit and it's down to the Son of Man to sacrifice himself to absolve man of the sins of the world.
Selina Thompson as Satan is truly frightening. She contorts her face and oozes her poisonous verse upon her unfortunate victims. Her bewitching contact lenses add to the menacing presence.
There is a terrific, unsettling scene when Satan enters the realm of Chaos and the senses are assaulted with figures chanting, inspired musical sounds, smoke and flashing lights.
Sarah Raine is a suitably gorgeous Eve. She acts her socks off. She portrays beautifully Eve's changing state of mind from innocent and childlike to knowing with a touch of evil, to terror when banished from Eden.
Todd Baker also puts in a convincing and accomplished performance as gentle angel Raphael.
Milton's work appears to indicate, that although without knowledge, evil does not exist, it is necessary to ensure free will, which inevitably leads to sin. It is therefore impossible to have something (good), without its inevitable opposite (evil).
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