Under Milk Wood

Under Milk Wood
By Dylan Thomas. Presented by Wild Voices and The Street Theatre. The Street Theatre, Childers Street Acton, Canberra. 14-17 November 2012

Wild Voices presents a lively reading of this set piece loved for its gorgeous scansion and humanity. Not minimalist so much as sound oriented, the main actors sat in a row on stage under simple warm spots, and the audience was told to close their eyes and let it all wash over them. Behind the row of seats, a few audience members , who had been invited to lie on a bed of several mattresses pushed together, would have had the full surround-sound experience. Rounding off the experience were perfectly timed sound effects provided by a teenaged crew under the direction of Vanessa Nimmo.

Dianna Nixon opens the piece as the First Voice, and although she possibly could be a little louder, sets the lyrical tone. As they were introduced, the actors in the roles of the townspeople rose from the chairs, more to add dynamics to the reading than to physically act. As they begin to move, the play springs to life. Each of the characters was well drawn and the accents were nicely done.  It’s hard to single out any actor above the rest, but there were a couple of parts that were particularly memorable. Dene Kermond was charming as the blind Captain Cat, dreaming of drowned friends and listening wistfully to the sounds of the village children (played by a small herd of well-trained pre-teens). There was lovely interplay between Zsuzsi Soboslay as both Mrs Ogmore-Prichard and Mrs Organ Morgan and their spouses. Kate Hosking is a pint-sized ball of talent, shining particularly as cheerful single mother Polly Garter, the unpleasant Mrs Pugh and tragic, dead prostitute Rosie Probert.

Canberra audiences will get another to experience the play next year part of Canberra Rep’s 2013 season, directed by Duncan Ley. It will be a great opportunity to compare the two.

Cathy Bannister

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