John Milton's 17th-century epic poem, "Paradise Lost," is considered one of the finest works written in the English language. Dealing with Satan's fall from heaven and Adam and Eve's expulsion from paradise, Milton wrote the piece 15 years after he had become blind and after the death of two wives and two children.

But personal losses seem to have sharpened his theology and his emotion without stunting his stamina. The original work contains more than 10 hours of material, edited by Jan McGrath to two hours of script for the Army Readers Theatre performance.

Given the theater context, McGrath's version wisely centers on the dialogue passages with enough narration spoken by The Poet (Richard Valasek) to provide context and vivid background.

Satan (Richard Pellett) figures prominently in the script's first act, but disappears from Act 2. Adam (Seth Lilley) and Eve (Karen Valasek) are continuing characters, but God (Michael Burnett) and The Son (Peter Togawa) are relegated to comparatively minor supporting roles.

In this version, directed by Sylvia Hormann-Alper, Eve emerges as the most complex character and the source of its only humor.

Chuckles arise after Eve eats the forbidden fruit and contemplates keeping it secret to remain superior to Adam. But then she considers that God might give him "another Eve" and decides to share.

Later, after their "lustful dalliance" and with their "eyes opened," but their "minds darkened," the pair begin to quarrel and blame each other. Adam claims that he was "overcome by female charm." Eve snaps that it might have been better had she "remained a useless rib."

One of the merits of readers theater is that voices — supplemented by audience imagination — create the characters. So it works for Lilley — a high school student — to be paired with Valasek, who is a few years his senior. Lilley's Adam is uncomplicatedly innocent, while Valasek's Eve has a spunky streak.

When God puts things right, part of the punishment is that he makes Eve subordinate to Adam and sentences her to painful childbirth. But Man's redemption is also promised through Eve, who gains depth by realizing she will originate a line of descendants from which the Savior will come.

Pellett's Satan also offers some character depth. Driven by jealousy and spite, he has the pride to "better reign in hell than serve in heaven" and to use his mind to make a "heaven of hell." Bitter and resentful of God's attention to Adam and Eve, he enters the garden to cause mischief to that relationship.

Director Hormann-Alper also adds some interesting dramatic touches to the reading. All actors wear black, save for Adam and Eve, who appear in all white. But after they have sinned, both don black neck scarves. There is also an empty chair in each act, adding interest and a bit of mystery.

The real star in this production, however, is McGrath. Her abridged version makes "Paradise Lost" accessible and interesting for a modern audience, while preserving the genius of Milton, who first gave the subject human form and motivation.

Joseph T. Rozmiarek has been reviewing theater since 1973.