Under Milk Wood
November 1983
by Dylan Thomas, directed by Philip Jones
Cast: First Voice (The Author) - Mary Jones Second Voice (The Director) - Dick Dann Captain Cat - Brian Bowker The Drowned - Ben Grimsey, Steve Bright, Jim Orford, Roy Wheeler & Roland Cranmer Rosie Probert - Margaret Butt Mog Edwards - Gordon Halliday Myfanwy Price - Joyce Evans Jack Black - Roland Cranmer Mr. Waldo - Mike Jeans Mrs. Waldo (mother) - Joan Bowditch Mrs. Waldo (wife) - Alison Lambourne The Neighbours - Lynn Trout, Miranda Leger, Sybil Hopson & Karen Barrett Matti Richards - Louise Wigfield Matti's Mother - Carol Pettit Dulcie Prothero - Margaret Butt Effie Bevan - Marie Berry Lil the Gluepot - Katherine Halliday Mrs. Flusher - Joyce Evans Preacher - Ben Grimsey Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard - Miranda Leger Mr. Ogmore - Gordon Halliday Mr. Pritchard - Jim Orford Gossamer Beynon - Louise Wigfield Organ Morgan - Roland Cranmer Mrs. Organ Morgan - Sybil Hopson Utah Watkins - Fred Lewes Mrs. Utah Watkins - Joan Bowditch Ocky Milkman - Steve Bright P.C. Attila Rees - Mike Jeans Willy Nilly - Ben Grimsey Mrs. Willy Nilly - Joyce Evans Lily Smalls - Karen Barrett Mae Rose Cottage - Katherine Halliday Butcher Beynon - Roy Wheeler Mrs. Beynon - Joan Bowditch Rev. Eli Jenkins - Philip Jones Mr. Pugh - Jim Orford Mrs. Pugh - Alison Lambourne | Production Team: Mary Ann Sailors - Marie Berry Sinbad Sailors - Jeff Harreld Dai Bread - Roland Cranmer Mrs. Dai Bread One - Margaret Butt Mrs. Dai Bread Two - Lynn Trout Polly Garter - Diana Lucas Nogood Boyo - Cass Thorne Lord Cut-Glass - Fred Lewes Voice of the Guidebook - Lynn Trout Cherry Owen - Cass Thorne Mrs. Cherry Owen - Margaret Butt Old Man - Fred Lewes The Shoppers - Alison Lambourne, Karen Barrett, Carol Pettit & Joyce Evans Evans the Death - Steve Bright Fishermen - Fred Lewes, Roy Wheeler Children's Voices - Lisa Thorne, Duncan Thorne, Joanna Lambourne, Joe Hogg & Rachael Thorne Child - Kate Trout Bessie Bighead - Marie Berry Women's Voices - Karen Barrett & Alison Lambourne Dancers - Karen Barrett & Katherine Halliday - Director - Philip Jones Set Design - Diana Lucas Set Construction - Mike Trout & Brian Bowker Costumes - Olive Rumford Properties - Rosemary Stephenson & Janet Matthews Lighting - Barry Matthews Sound - Richard Price Production Secretary - Carol Pettit Publicity - Lynn Trout & Alison Lambourne Prompts - Carol Pettit & Joan Bowditch Front of House - Anne Atkinson |
Reviews:
From Exmouth & East Devon Journal:
...extremely well presented and performed.
Under Milk Wood is brought to life
In their productions over the past three or four years, the Topsham-based Estuary Players have proved themselves to be a group of very competent performers, always ready to show originality in their choice of plays, and painstakingly meticulous in their staging.
Last week's presentation of Under Milk Wood certainly confirmed all these attributes.
The unique style of Dylan Thomas, which has been described as 'poetry, fun, schoolboy bawdiness and verbal virtuosity', may not be everyone's cup of tea.
But even those who find the Welsh wizard not to their liking would have to admit that the Estuary Players' production of his best known work was extremely well presented and performed.
Under Milk Wood outlines life in a Welsh village during a 24 hour period, highlighting the dreams, the hopes, the fears, the loves and the gossip of the various inhabitants.
The Estuary Players' production used two narrators (Mary Jones and Dick Dann) plus 26 players who portrayed a cast of more than twice that number by doubling and trebling up.
With the involvement of so many characters, the fact that the action moved so smoothly, with all the intricate moves quietly and efficiently performed, says much for the direction of Philip Jones as well as the ability of those taking part.
Diana Lucas had designed a most imaginative set, constructed by Mike Trout and Brian Bowker, and the production was also helped by some effective lighting and sound effects for which Barry Matthews and Richard Price were respectively responsible.
The players who brought the village characters very much to life were Brian Bowker, Ben Grimsey, Steve Bright, Jim Orford, Roy Wheeler, Roland Cranmer, Margaret Butt, Gordon Halliday, Joyce Evans, Mike Jeans, Joan Bowditch, Alison Lambourne, Lynn Trout, Miranda Leger, Sybil Hopson, Karen Barrett, Louise Wigfield, Carol Pettit, Marie Berry, Katherine Halliday, Fred Lewes, Jeff Harreld, Diana Lucas, Cass Thorne, Kate Trout and director Philip Jones himself.
Back stage helpers included Olive Rumford (costumes), and Rosemary Stephenson and Janet Matthews (properties), while Anne Atkinson looked after front of house and the production secretary was Carol Pettit.
Photos:
Click a thumbnail to view larger
