In the world of experimental musical theatre scripts, one iconic piece stands out – Under Milk Wood. This radio play, penned by the renowned Welsh writer Dylan Thomas, has captivated audiences with its poetic beauty and vibrant satire since its first broadcast in 1954. The play, set in the fictional Welsh town of Llareggub, delves into the dreams, digressions, and foibles of its quirky inhabitants.
Thomas, a gifted radio actor himself, crafted Under Milk Wood as a “play for voices,” blending narration, acting, song, verse, and sound effects in a unique and fluid manner. The play’s initial broadcast on the BBC’s Third Programme featured a cast led by Thomas’s friend and acting companion, Richard Burton.
Fast forward to the present day, composer Ninfea Cruttwell-Reade found herself tasked with adapting Thomas’s masterpiece into a music-theatre production. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Stravinsky, she embarked on the challenging journey of setting Thomas’s lyrical words to music, a task not for the faint of heart given the play’s already distinctive rhythm and tone.
Cruttwell-Reade, known for her musical settings of poetry and prose, meticulously trimmed the original 90-minute script to an hour-long rendition that retained the essence of Milk Wood’s narrative arc. The adaptation, titled Scenes from Under Milk Wood, features a small mixed instrumental ensemble and a cast of performers embodying the colorful characters of Llareggub.
Embracing the experimental roots of the radio play, the production under the direction of Harvey Evans takes on a semi-staged format reminiscent of a live recording session from the 1950s. The cast, armed with scripts, breathe life into Thomas’s eccentric characters, evoking the spirit of the original broadcasting era.
For Cruttwell-Reade and her team, staging Scenes from Under Milk Wood is not just about reviving a classic but also about inviting audiences to immerse themselves in the whimsical world of Llareggub. The music underscores the play’s comedic elements, echoing Thomas’s invitation to embrace human imperfections with laughter and self-reflection.
As the world premiere of Scenes from Under Milk Wood unfolds at the Spitalfields festival in London, it pays homage to the timeless appeal of Thomas’s work and the enduring power of experimental theatre scripts to transport and entertain audiences across generations.
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