Under Milk Wood was written for radio as 'A Play for Voices', so a visual interpretation always goes slightly against Dylan Thomas's own intentions. However, as a way of celebrating the writer's centenary this version uses modern technology to bring an incredible cast together from across the world (all-Welsh, of course).
This is a fun version of the play. There is no reverence or bowing of the knee before Thomas's genius or 'the text'. The cast enjoy themselves, enjoy Thomas's jokes and sly digs at human nature, and enjoy the parts they play. The characters which are played straightest (by Jonathan Pryce and Siân Philips) are would-be poisoner Mr Pugh and his nagging wife, and even here black comedy is clearly in evidence.
My only criticisms are: that the fun sometimes gets in the way of Thomas's quite serious points about the human condition, such as Captain Cat's memories of his old crewmen and awareness of his own mortality, and; that cuts have been made, particularly of the children's' roles, and Rev Eli Jenkins morning hymn. And what happened to Mrs Organ Morgan complaining about being kept awake all night with the organ ("It's organ, organ all the time with him.")? Surely we can stand a little double entendre in 2015, 'political correctness' hasn't gone that far, has it?
Casting Tom Jones in the piece may seem a bit of a gimmick but it actually works very well - his musical training means he makes the most of the lyricism of the language (even if, again, a large monologue of Captain Cat's is given to another actor).
While this isn't a 'classic' version of the work, it is still enjoyable and worth watching.
This is a fun version of the play. There is no reverence or bowing of the knee before Thomas's genius or 'the text'. The cast enjoy themselves, enjoy Thomas's jokes and sly digs at human nature, and enjoy the parts they play. The characters which are played straightest (by Jonathan Pryce and Siân Philips) are would-be poisoner Mr Pugh and his nagging wife, and even here black comedy is clearly in evidence.
My only criticisms are: that the fun sometimes gets in the way of Thomas's quite serious points about the human condition, such as Captain Cat's memories of his old crewmen and awareness of his own mortality, and; that cuts have been made, particularly of the children's' roles, and Rev Eli Jenkins morning hymn. And what happened to Mrs Organ Morgan complaining about being kept awake all night with the organ ("It's organ, organ all the time with him.")? Surely we can stand a little double entendre in 2015, 'political correctness' hasn't gone that far, has it?
Casting Tom Jones in the piece may seem a bit of a gimmick but it actually works very well - his musical training means he makes the most of the lyricism of the language (even if, again, a large monologue of Captain Cat's is given to another actor).
While this isn't a 'classic' version of the work, it is still enjoyable and worth watching.