Paradise Lost is a one-man, multi-media, theatrical adaptation of John Milton’s epic 17th century poem. It involves puppets, state of the art computer animation, and a Rock n’ Roll soundscape. The story begins moments after the battle of heaven, as Satan finds himself and his followers cast into hell. In search of revenge, Satan travels to the Garden of Eden. Jeremy Eliosoff’s computer animation creates a visual feast of the lapping flames of hell and the tangled foliage of Eden. Combining traditional techniques in puppetry and groundbreaking special effects, along with the greatest epic poem ever written, Paradise Lost has achieved acclaim with audiences and critics alike. Winner of the “Outstanding Show” award–The best overall production in the Atlantic Fringe Festival.

Press Quotes

Montreal:

In Montreal the Montreal English Critics Circle nominated Paradise Lost for “Best Text” & “Best Lighting” and presented Paul with the prestigious Revelation of the Year Award, while in 2010 Nightlife Magazine named him one of the top twenty emerging artists in Montreal.

“Inspired… Intense… It’s great!”
-- Jeanette Kelly – Homerun, CBC Radio

 “Montreal actor/director Paul Van Dyck has come up with a dazzling new solo performance art piece, complete with slick computer graphics and Adam and Eve puppets, that strikes with the force of devilish revelation. His line delivery offers an audacious re-interpretation of the text that makes Milton sound relevant to today. Don't hesitate to buy a ticket…The amazing thing about Van Dyck's piece is that it reinterprets Milton without radical deconstruction… Judging from his virtuoso performance in Paradise Lost, Van Dyck's career could be about to take flight.”
-- Pat Donnelly - The Gazette

“Van Dyck and his team spice it up… It’s a very ambitious production that is not as much about entertainment as it is about serious theatre.”
-- Julia Gerke - The Suburban

 “Van Dyck’s take on Paradise Lost stays the epic course.”
-- Brett Hooton - Hour

 “How many one-man plays can boast impressive CGI, puppets and a bona fide script by John Milton?”
-- Christopher Olson – The Link

“... after seeing Paul Van Dyck's adaptation of epic poem Paradise Lost, there's no doubt that Satan is the original rock star”
-- Emily Manuel - The Concordia Online


Halifax:

In Halifax we won a “Fringe Hits” award–The best attended show in the Danspace & “Outstanding Show” award–The best overall production in the Atlantic Fringe Festival.

For more coverage and direct links to the reviews all of the Halifax coverage is up on this blog:
http://beyondthemountain.org/2011/09/04/paradise-lost-press-at-atlantic-fringe/

“The intimacy and depth of emotion and connection he is able to weave with two inanimate objects is nothing short of magic. This one is not to be missed. Run, don’t walk.”
– Amanda Campbell - The Way I See It

“Although the price to pay might be a small one, it’d still be a sin to miss Paradise Lost.”
– Stephen Cooke - The Chronicle Herald

“… a stirring, visually-astounding, memorable piece of theatre that I predict will be among the best Fringe plays I see—-ever.”
– Kate Watson - The Coast

Paul Van Dyck - Performer & Creator
Based in Montreal, Paul Van Dyck has performed in dozens of film, television, and theatre productions since graduating from Queen’s University’s Specialized Studies in Stage and Screen. Paul is also an award winning playwright and director, creating the critically acclaimed plays The Cyclops, Sahara Crossing,Haunted, and Paradise Lost (winner of the Best Production Award at the Atlantic Fringe Festival), as well as directing the world premieres of Ned Cox’s Mission Drive, Katharine Dempsey’s penumbra, and the North American premiere of Jim Burke’s Cornered. Recently, Paul directed a critically acclaimed production of Peter Shaffer’s Equus at Montreal’s historic Rialto Theatre. As Artistic Director of Rabbit in a Hat Productions, five of Paul’s productions have been selected to be part of Centaur Theatre’s Wildside Festival, including Miss Sugarpuss Must Die! (winner of the Best Production Award at the Montreal Fringe Festival). Based on his commitment to excellence in theatre, The Montreal English Critics Circle presented Paul with the prestigious Revelation of the Year Award, while Nightlife Magazine named him one of the top twenty emerging artists in Montreal.

Jody Burkholder - Lighting
Jody Burkholder is a Yellowknifer living in Montreal.  This is the eighth creation he has collaborated on with Rabbit In A Hat as Production/Lighting Designer, most recently with the North American premiere of Jim Burke's Cornered in Montreal.  He has been nominated five times in the last four years for the Best Lighting Design at the Montreal MECCA awards, winning in 2008 for George F. Walker's Heaven, with Fallen Angel Productions.  He has also had the pleasure of working with organizations and individual artists such as Catherine Kidd, The Just for Laugh's Comedy Festival, Pop Montreal, Tableau D'Hote Theatre,  Concordia University Dance, The Centaur Theatre, Circuit-Est Centre de Choreographie, , and the extraordinary, unforgettable Miss Sugarpuss. He sits on the Board of Directors for MainLine Theatre, producers of the St. Ambroise Fringe Montreal. He does it all for Poe.

Jeremy Eliosoff - CGI
Jeremy Eliosoff was born in Montreal. He received a BFA from Concordia University's Studio Arts program (2002), and a diploma in Computer Animation from Sheridan College (2003). Since then, he has been making visual effects for television and films (Fantastic Four, 300, Watchmen), and he has recently produced computer generated projections for live theater. He resumed his neglected painting practice in 2010 and has since exhibited in many galleries, cafes and restaurants. 

Lyne Paquette - Puppets
Lyne is a founding member of Talisman Theatre. A graduate of the National Theatre School, theatre design is Lyne's second career. She continues to develop her theatre training with puppetry workshops and recently completed a three-month internship at Michael Curry Design. Since 2004 Lyne has designed for many theatre, dance, and operetta productions in Montreal. Prior to that Lyne was an Assistant Designer at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. She has designed set and costumes for Talisman productions since 2005. 

Sara Rodriguez - General Manager
Sara Rodriguez is a recent graduate from Concordia University's theater program in Montreal and a former graduate of John Abbott College, where she was awarded the Pamela Montgomery scholarship.  Besides working for Beyond the Mountain Productions for the past year, Sara enjoys stage managing and performing. Among her favorite stage credits are starring in Sala XVIII (a new production by Canis Tempus) playing Busty Stevens in Several Scenes Involving a Decomposing Corpse, Little Becky Two-Shoes in Urinetown: The Musical, performing in Doctor Faustus Lights the Lights by Gertrude Stein and Jeannie in the musical Hair.  Her stage management highlights include Witchcraft (Concordia University), Quixote (Canis Tempus), Not Wanted on the Voyage (John Abbott College), Down from Heaven and Bye Bye Baby (Imago Theatre).  Sara also works as a model and makeup artist in and around Montreal.

Danielle-Ariel Caddell-Malenfant - Artistic Director
Danielle is a producer/stage manager and has recently become Artistic Director of Beyond the Mountain Productions. Some of the notable companies she has worked with include; Rialto Theatre, Uncalled For, Rabbit in a Hat, Geordie Productions, and MainLine Theatre. Career highlights include; Stage Manager for Processed Theatre's production of 'Reefer Madness: The Musical', and ASM on Infinitheatre's award winning 'Blessed are they'. While Stage Managing Green with Envy’s ‘How Does a Drug Deal Become a Decent 3rd Date’ she toured Montreal, Hamilton, and Toronto.