Choreography: Janak Khendry
Music: Eric Cadesky, Ashit Desai, Alap Desai
Lighting: Bradley Trenaman
Photography: David Hou
Research Advisers: Dr. Tulsiram Sharma, Mr. Philip Pullman

Fleck Dance Theatre, Harbourfront Centre, 
Toronto ON Canada
December 6 to 8, 2013

"The recent world premiere of Janak Khendry's Paradise Lost was an eclectic and impressive spectacle combining Indian classical and modern Western dance styles with the iconic narrative regarding Adam and Eve's struggle with good and evil in the Garden of Eden. By following John Milton's literary masterpiece to the letter, with help from various Milton scholars, Khendry has created a faithful narrative rendition, in dance, of the original text."

(Bateman Reviews)

"And the result is nothing short of staggering in both scope and delivery. From the opening scene ("Descent of Satan and his Followers into Hell"), featuring Satan standing over writhing bodies twisting and arching on a fiery lake, to the luminescent end that's tinged with sorrow as Adam and Eve make their final exit, Khendry's production transcended the limitations of dance."

Christina Strynatka (Toronto Performing Arts Examiner)

"We applaud Khendry for successfully creating a fusion take on the biblical tale, transforming a difficult piece into a compelling, contemporary production."

(Anokhi Media)

"To say that bharatanatyam guru Janak Khendry is an ambitious choreographer is an understatement. In his latest work, the Indian born Khendry has undertaken to translate John Milton’s epic poem Paradise Lost into dance."

Paula Citron (Globe and Mail-Toronto)

"There is something quite extraordinary happening at Harbourfront Centre’s Fleck Dance Theatre. The Janak Khendry Dance Company’s production of John Milton’s Paradise Lost is masterfully executed and utterly captivating. I have never read Milton’s epic classic, so I was amazed at how firmly this show held me in its grip."

Istvan Dugalin (Mooney on Theatre)

DESCENT OF SATAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS INTO HELL

The scene opens on a burning lake, with Satan and his followers beside him. Satan assembles his fallen legions on the shore, where he revives their spirits by his speech. They set off to a palace, called Pandemonium. There the high ranking angels assemble in council. A proposal is brought forth where the devils may seek to enact their revenge.

Meera Rajah, Ishwaria Chandru, Rugsha Sivanandan, Allen Kaeja as Satan, Divya Divakaran, Keerthika Ravinthiran, Kalaisan Kalaichelvan

SATAN AND THE NINE GATES OF HELL

Satan alone undertakes the voyage to find God’s new world. He encounters Sin and Death, his offspring, guarding hell’s gates.

Sin unlocks the gate, and Satan embarks on his passage across the great gulf of chaos between heaven and hell.

From L to R: Ishwaria Chandru as Satan's Daughter, Kalaisan Kalaichelvan as Satan's Son and Allen Kaeja as Satan

From L to R:
Austin Fagan as Michael, Mateo Galindo Torres as Uriel, Harikishan S. Nair as Son, Janak Khendry as God, Daniel McArthur as Gabriel

                                                            Janak Khendry as God

From L to R:
Austin Fagan as Michael, Daniel McArthur, Harikishan S. Nair as Son, Janak Khendry as God,
Tyler Gledhill as Raphael, and Mateo Galindo Torres as Uriel

MEETING OF SATAN AND URIEL

Satan flies down to the sun, upon which an angel, Uriel, stands guard. Diguised as a cherub, Satan pretends he has come to praise God’s new creation, and thereby tricks the angel into showing him the way to man’s home.

SATAN COMES TO PARADISE

Satan Flies to Paradise to proceed on his evil errand.

ADAM AND EVE IN PARADISE, SATAN OBSERVES FROM A DISTANCE

In Paradise, Adam and Ever frolic.  Satan wonders at the Garden's beauty, and soon comes upon Adam and Eve, who excite great envy in him at their happy state and thereby plots to cause them harm.

HUNT FOR SATAN BY GABRIEL AND URIEL

Uriel, becoming suspicious, comes to warn Gabriel who is guarding the gate of Paradise.
That evening, they hunt for Satan but are eluded.

ADAM AND EVE PLAYFUL IN THE GARDEN

The two lovers are playing in the garden, unaware they are being watched again by Satan, and when night falls, they snuggle and fall into a loving sleep.

SATAN WHISPERS IN EVE’S EAR

Satan whispers in the ear of Eve as she sleeps next to her husband.

EVE TELLS ADAM ABOUT THE BAD DREAM

Next morning, Eve relates to Adam the troublesome dream, and is comforted by him.

RAPHAEL COMES TO WARN ADAM ABOUT SATAN

The angel Raphael comes to visit the couple to warn Adam of their enemy. The angel arrives, warns Adam abut
Satan. Eve returns with food, whereby Raphael dines with them, then relates to them the history of Satan’s fall.

GOD PRESENTS SON IN HEAVEN, SATAN WILL NOT BOW

God presents his Son where a jealous Satan rebels and incites all those in his charge to rebel against God.

BATTLE OF ANGELS AGAINST SATAN AND FOLLOWERS – DAY 1- MICHAEL INJURES SATAN

Michael is sent to lead the faithful angels into battle against Satan and his army. Satan is wounded by Michael
and in disarray, Satan and his powers retreat.

HAPPY ANGELS DANCE

Then angels celebrate their first victory over Satan and his followers.

BATTLE OF ANGELS AGAINST SATAN AND FOLLOWERS – DAY 2

The war continues into the next day, when God sends his Son, to end the war. Riding forth in his flaming chariot, the Son drives the rebels out of heaven and down into hell, as the Son celebrates trumphantly.

From L to R: Meera Rajah, Ishwaria Chandru, Keerthika Ravinthiran, Rugsha Sivanandan, Kalaisan Kalaichelvan,
Divya Divakaran, Sinthuja Jeyarajah, Harinnya Rajasekeran, Allen Kaeja as Satan and Harikishan S. Nair as Son

THE ANGELS DRIVE SATAN AND THE REBELS OUT OF HEAVEN AND DOWN INTO HELL

THE SON AND ANGELS CELEBRATE TRIUMPHANTLY

ACT II

IN PARADISE, ADAM AND EVE FROLIC, EVE WORKS ALONE

Satan returns to earth, where he chooses the serpent as his best disguise. Next morning, when Adam and Eve go forth to their gardening tasks, Eve suggests they go in separate directions. With great reservation, Adam finally consents.

Kala Vageesan as Eve and Eddie Kastrau as Adam

SATAN AS SNAKE AND EVE

The serpent finds Eve alone and approaches her. She is surprised to find the creature can speak.

EVE EATS THE FRUIT AND EARTH IS SHAKEN

Eve is soon induced by Satan to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree, and the earth shakes in response.

EVE SAVES THE FRUIT FOR ADAM

Adam is horrified when he finds what she has done, but at length resigns himself to share her fate rather than be left without her, and eats the fruit also. The earth is again shaken in response.

ADAM AND EVE FEEL THE REPERCUSSIONS OF EATING THE FRUIT

After eating, they are aroused with lust become awareness of their nakedness and shame, and cover themselves with leaves. In their emotional distress, they fall into mutual accusations and blame.

SON COMES TO ADAM AND EVE

The Son of God descends to earth to judge the sinners. He tells them Eve will have great pain in childbirth, Adam will have drought and famine upon his crops, they are told they will now be mortals and death awaits them. Then, in pity, he clothes them both.

ANGELS RETURN TO HEAVEN

Angels return to heaven and celebrate their God and his Son.

OUTCOME OF EATING THE FRUIT – DISOBEDIENCE

Sin, Death and Violence enact a scene of humankind’s impending demise. They set out to build a highway over chaos to make future passage to earth easier.

MICHAEL LEADS ADAM AND EVE OUT OF PARADISE

The angel Michael descends to Paradise with news of their expulsion, Michael leads them up a high hill, where he sets before him in visions, what shall happen to mankind up to the great flood. The scene finishes with Michael escorting Adam and Eve out of Paradise.

MICHAEL LEADS ADAM AND EVE OUT OF PARADISE VIDEO CLIP

(Click on image below to play)

Creators of PARADISE LOST

Thanks
Mrs. Niranjana Chandru, Director of Kalaimanram of Canada has my gratitude for sharing her dancers
Special Thanks to Christie Lighting