UNION HALL - ADELAIDE UNIVERSITY - NINE SHOWS ONLY!
Guy Masterson's world acclaimed interpretation of Dylan Thomas'
enchanting masterpiece returns for a 3rd sell-out season!
"one of the most remarkable inventive performances of the decade!" (Times)
"A mesmerisingly brilliant tour de force."(Scotsman) "Simply bewitching!" (Three Weeks)
ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL 2006: (Union Hall)
DB MAGAZINE (01/03/06)
"With nothing but a white chair, an old pair of striped pyjamas, and a poetic script, Guy Masterson creates the entire village of Milk Wood. All in all it's an inspirational solo performance of Dylan Thomas' lyrical text 'Under Milk Wood'.
We're taken through the cycle of one day in Milk Wood, the classic Welsh seaside town. The town's inhabitants begin asleep, dreaming their dreams, and then slowly as they wake we're introduced to their lives as well. Nothing out of the ordinary happens on this particular day in Milk Wood but you're still riveted to your seat.
Masterson produces many different characters from the young child with his mother to the old blind man listening to the children in the street. Each character has their story and their relationships with other characters but each is equally enjoyable to meet. Because of the poetry and clever character work of Masterson, you're never confused as to what is happening, even when we are allowed into the private thoughts and the public front of Mr Pugh while he eats his breakfast with Mrs Pugh; all played simultaneously by Masterson.
The clever and simple design allows the mind to explore the imagery that the text creates. The lighting follows the sun, creating a marvellous and long shadow of Masterson on the crisp black curtain behind him, enlarging his skilful antics." (Toni Main)
ADELAIDE ADVERTISER (28/02/06)
BEAUTIFUL SOLO PERFORMANCE... "It's hard to imagine the small Welsh fishing village of Under Milk Wood finding a more affectionate voice for its community than Guy Masterson. The actor coaxes, caresses and cajoles into life more than 50 characters in Dylan Thomas's enduring protrait, in a performance of almost unnatural physical grace.
Masterson's lilting Welsh accent and sonorous voice were made for Thomas' writing. The revelation is the way he uses the bulk of his pyjama-clad body to convey a world of human experience, from children playing, to women weeping, to drunks roaring.
At times Masterson seems to float on stage like imagination personified... It's a beautiful solo performance..." (Louise Nunn)
ADELAIDE INDEPENDENT (27/02/06)
POETIC & INTENSE... "Guy Masterson does a msterful one-man turn as the 69 different characters in Dylan Thomas's classic Under Milkwood. With nothing more than a stage, a chair, well-timed lighting and music, and his and Thomas's extensive talents, Masterson is energetic, articulate and entertaining. It's a tough act to pull off: nearly two hours - without interval - of poetic narrative and shifting between characters; But Masterson never tires, never flinches, never wanes. Suddenly, a canonical work enshrined in the British national syllabus becomes fresh again, without the cheeky tendency toward modernising, never detouring far from Thomas's original intention. Be prepared to be immersed, and to afterward rush home to dust-off old your copy of Thomas from your library's upper shelf." (Miguel Syjuco)
PUNTERS' REVIEWS: ADELAIDE FRINGE 2006: (Source: TalkFringe.com)
Had heard about the show when I was in Edinburgh in 2003 but didn't see it. I saw his 12 Angry Men there and here and it was fantastic! I didn't get until he told us at the end that he was in it! This guy's amazing! Brilliant performer, director. His one man Milk Wood is incredible. As an actor, you could be either inspired or completely put off by this man because he almost too good to be true. But its true. It is an amazing performance of a great piece of writing. All actors should see this. (Blokey - 06/03/06)
Theatre doesn't get better than this! A must see. Astonishingly rich words delivered by Guy Masterson in a highly entertaining style that had me laughing a lot. He didn't skip a beat in a performance that takes a lot of energy and MEMORY like you probably didn't know a person was capable of. (Dijana - 05/03/06)
This was INCREDIBLE! A standing ovation from nearly the entire audience said it all. Guy Masterson was dripping wet after 5 mins and didn't stop for another 100! What a memory and performance. Nothing on stage but him and the words. The best I've ever heard. Amazing! (Joy To Behold - 07/03/06)
Wow. A beautiful piece of theatre, beautifully performed. This was my first introduction to Dylan Thomas' work, and what a powerhouse of an introduction it was. Wednesday is the last night - go see it! (Boots - 07/03/06)
OK... nearly all the reviews for this guy are from babes... YOU CAN SEE WHY! This guy is sweet! Not your normal sex god - but WOW... after ten minutes he has you eating out of his hand! He is amazingly sexy as girls and boys. His nuance is shocking! I was completely blown away. Go see him girls... Sorry, it finished tonight... Ha ha! He'll be back... we hope! (Wow Babe - 08/03/06)
This has been the highlight of the Fringe for me. I know the original Richard Burton version quite well, but this was even better, and provided a startlingly fresh insight into Dylan Thomas's 's genius. 12 Angry Men, now this. What next? I cant wait.. (Miray - 09/03/06)
Nice reviews! I would agree with most of the comments below. I went when there was obviously a problem with the lights and the microphone, but Masterson didn't seem to mind! 102 mins is long for a fringe show, but I don't see how you could leave anything out of this. But it was so entertaining that the time did not matter. Music fantastic. Writing superb. Performance terrific. My first show and could be the best! (Elisabeth - 01/03/06)
WOW! This was a surprise. I was taken by my boyfriend and had no idea what I was coming to. I thought it was stand-up! My hat comes off to you Mr Masterson! A performance like nothing I have ever seen. Dylan Thomas is awesome. SO funny! And Guy M is amazing. A beautiful voice and his mime and movement were perfect. He was especially good that the girl parts! And Matt Clifford's music really set off the words nicely. A really wonderful evening! Thanks! (Joanna B - 28/01/06)
Technical difficulties aside, this was amazing! Got in for free, but wish I'd paid now. Could be the best perf on the fringe. One bloke, a pair of pajamas and a chair! Awesome dude! (TechnofreaK - 28/02/06)
I have NEVER seen anything like this! I thought I knew Milk Wood, but I had only scratched the surface. It is sooooo beautiful to listen to and Guy Masterson is quite extraordinary to watch. I gather he's been dong this for some time (10 years?) and you can tell. He is totally inside it. He IS it! The reviews on his programme said it all. If I hadn't seen it, I wouldn't have believed it! Go, go, go! (A Tidy Wife - 28/02/06)
Great perfomance, apart from the problem with the mike half way through. Guy did a fine job handling it without missing a beat, but it was a bit distracting (unfortunately). Also difficult to follow consistently but the 'script' was so evocative and Guy's performance so energised that it kept drawing me back in. Wonderful stuff! Inspires me to re-read the original. (Halcyon - 28/02/06)
If you like your actors to work, and work hard, then this is the show for you. One man, an entire town of characters and 100minutes to convey a 24hour period (dreams and all). Interesting and sombre, funny and sad." (Cassandra - 27/02/06)
Utterly compelling genius writing and an amazing performance from a master. I was intrigued how one person could do the whole thing on his own, but within seconds he had me eating out of his palm! A mesmerising lesson in performance! I'm gobsmacked! (Natasha - 27/02/06)
