Under Milk Wood (Tour – York Theatre Royal)

Dylan Thomas‘ Under Milk Wood tells the story of 24 hours in the lives – both waking and unconscious – of the residents of the fictional Welsh fishing town of Llareggub.

It is easy to see why one of the original incarnations of the play was on radio. The able ensemble, along with director Terry Hands, work hard to extract physical humour and drama from the text but it often feels this piece was intended to be experienced in the listener’s imagination.

In some ways this production is an actors dream, there’s an abundance of delicious language to play with and many physical comic set-pieces, it is obvious the cast are enjoying themselves and this certainly transfers to the audience but where this piece really elevates in to something special is when the stage is dimly lit and perfectly still and the First Voice delivers Thomas’ exquisite monologues.

These segments are a celebration of the English language and an affectionate tribute to Welsh culture and to the transcendental beauty of the natural world in general. So powerfully evocative are these passages, so bursting with love, heart and yearning, so beautifully and completely do they render this world in the imagination, it seems unfair, and virtually impossible, to expect actors to physically represent this on stage with any greater purity.

Away from this, Clwyd Theatr Cymru’s loving adaptation is a whimsical and often bawdy piece, essentially a series of amusing vignettes, fun and engaging but with little narrative thrust or insight. Mention should also go to Martyn Bainbridge‘s swirling Escher-esque set, which perfectly compliments the cyclical, dream-like quality of the script.

Under Milk Wood continues at York Theatre Royal until 26 April 2014.