"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood" - prayer of the Reverend Eli Jenkins from Under Milk Wood

A statue in Swansea's Maritime Quarter representing Thomas's fictional Captain Cat

Under Milk Wood is a play for radio by Dylan Thomas, later adapted for the stage. Radio drama is a form of audio storytelling broadcast on radio. Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953 was a Welsh poet who wrote exclusively in English A play, or stageplay, is a form of Literature written by a Playwright, almost always consisting of Dialogue between Fictional characters A film version, directed by Andrew Sinclair, was released in 1972. Andrew Sinclair (born 1935 is a British novelist historian critic and film-maker

An all-seeing narrator invites the audience to listen to the dreams and innermost thoughts of the inhabitants of an imaginary small Welsh village, Llareggub ("bugger all" spelt backwards – though re-spelt in early editions as Llaregyb so as not to offend). Llareggub is a fictional town that features in Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas.

They include Mrs Ogmore-Pritchard, relentlessly bossing her two dead husbands; Captain Cat, reliving his seafaring times; the two Mrs Dai Breads; Organ Morgan, obsessed with his music; and Polly Garter, pining for her dead lover. Later, the town wakes and, aware now of how their feelings affect whatever they do, we watch them go about their daily business.

Origins and development

A boat bearing the name of the fictional location of Under Milk Wood

When Dylan Thomas was staying in New Quay one winter, he went out early one morning into the still sleeping town and verses came to his mind about the inhabitants. Dylan Marlais Thomas (27 October 1914 – 9 November 1953 was a Welsh poet who wrote exclusively in English New Quay (Cei Newydd is both a traditional fishing Town and a Seaside resort on Cardigan Bay, Ceredigion, Wales. He wrote the account of this as Quite Early One Morning in 1944, and recorded the story for radio in 1945. He continued to work on the idea for eight years and on 9 September 1953 he delivered a full draft of Under Milk Wood to the BBC as he left for a tour of America, intending to revise the manuscript on his return. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He read a part of the script in public for the first time in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cambridge Massachusetts is a City in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts, United States. Soon after, with others, he sound-recorded a performance at the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan. The 92nd Street Y is a multifaceted cultural institution and community center located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. Two months later he was dead.

The play was recorded by the BBC in 1954 with a distinguished all-Welsh cast and produced by Douglas Cleverdon. (Thomas Douglas James Cleverdon ( 17 January 1903 &ndash 1 October 1987) was an English bookseller and radio producer in both fields Daniel Jones, a composer who was a lifelong friend of Thomas's, wrote the music for the production. Daniel Jenkyn Jones OBE ( December 7, 1912 &ndash April 23, 1993) was a Welsh Composer of classical music. The play was first broadcast (two month after his death) on 25 January 1954, on the BBC Third Programme, and repeated two days later. The recording featured Richard Burton as 'First Voice'. Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor.

Dylan Thomas is reported to have commented that Under Milk Wood was developed in response to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, as a way of reasserting the evidence of beauty in the world. A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from Nuclear reactions either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. The Japanese city of ( is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest of Japan 's

Performances

Thomas's poetic writing and an unforgettable cast of characters makes this a landmark play in the history of both radio and theatre. The 1972 film, with Richard Burton reprising his role, also featured Elizabeth Taylor, Peter O'Toole, Glynis Johns, Vivien Merchant, and other well-known actors, and Ryan Davies as the 'Second Voice'. Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, DBE (born 27 February 1932) is a two-time Academy Award -winning English-American actress Peter O'Toole (born 2 August 1932) is an Irish and British actor who achieved instant stardom in 1962 playing T Glynis Johns (born 5 October, 1923) is a British stage and film actress, Dancer, Pianist and Singer (notably Vivien Merchant (born July 22, 1929 in Manchester, England; died October 3, 1982) was a British actress who was born Ryan Davies ( 22 January, 1937 — 22 April, 1977) was a popular Welsh entertainer of the 1960s and 1970s

In 1988, George Martin produced an album version, featuring more of the dialogue being sung, with music by Martin and Elton John, among others; Anthony Hopkins played the part of 'First Voice'. Sir George Henry Martin CBE (3 January 1926 is a British record producer arranger and Composer. Sir Elton Hercules John CBE (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947 is an English pop / rock Singer, Composer Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE (born 31 December 1937 is a Welsh Film, stage and Television Actor. This was subsequently mounted as a one-off stage performance (as An Evening with Dylan Thomas), for The Prince's Trust and in the presence of HRH Prince Charles, to commemorate the opening in December 1992 of the new AIR Studios at Lyndhurst Hall. Associated Independent Recording (AIR, an independent recording company was founded in London in 1965 by Beatles producer George Martin and his partner It was again produced by Martin and directed by Hopkins, who once again played 'First Voice'. Other roles were played by Harry Secombe, Freddie Jones, Catherine Zeta Jones, Sian Phillips, Jonathan Pryce, Alan Bennett and, flying in especially for the occasion, Tom Jones. Sir Harry Donald Secombe, CBE ( 8 September 1921 &ndash 11 April 2001) was a Welsh Entertainer with a noted fine Freddie Jones (born 12 September 1927) is an English Character actor. Catherine Zeta-Jones ( "zeeta" born September 25, 1969) is a Welsh actress, presently based in the United States Siân Phillips CBE (pronounced ʃɑːn 'fɪlɪps born Jane Elizabeth Ailwên Phillips; May 14, 1933) is a Welsh actress Jonathan Pryce (born 1 June 1947 is a Welsh award-winning stage and Film actor/singer Alan Bennett (born 9 May 1934 is an English Author and Tony Award -winning Playwright. Sir Thomas John Woodward, (born 7 June 1940 known by his stage name Tom Jones, is a Welsh pop music singer particularly noted for his powerful voice The performance was recorded for television (directed by Declan Lowney) but has never been shown. Declan Lowney is a BAFTA -winning Irish television and Film director.

In November 2003, as part of the their commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of Thomas's death, the BBC broadcast a new production of the play, imaginatively combining new actors with the original 1954 recording of Richard Burton playing 'First Voice'. Richard Burton, CBE (10 November 1925 &ndash 5 August 1984 was a Welsh multiple award-winning Actor. (Broadcast 15 November 2003, BBC Radio 4; repeated 24 December 2004. Events 655 - Battle of Winwaed: Penda of Mercia is defeated by Oswiu of Northumbria. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " ) Digital noise reduction technology allowed Burton's part to be seamlessly incorporated into the new recording, which was intended to represent Welsh voices more realistically than the original.

In 2006, Austrian composer Akos Banlaky composed an opera to the libretto based on the German translation by Erich Fried (Unter dem Milchwald, performed at Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck, Austria). Erich Fried ( 6 May, 1921 &mdash November 22, 1988) was an Austrian Poet settled in England, known for his political-minded Innsbruck is the capital city of the federal state of Tyrol in western Austria. Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich

Principal characters

The play opens at night, and each character is dreaming-- this lasts for about one fifth of the play. While the below descriptions are NOT complete character descriptions, what they dream of certainly tells much of their personality (in order in which the narrator introduces their dreams):

• Captain Cat - The old blind sea captain who dreams of his deceased sea fellows, and the benefits that they miss now no longer alive.
• Myfanwy Price - The dressmaker and sweet shop keeper who dreams of Mog Edwards, a draper and marriage.
• Jack Black - The cobbler, who dreams of frightening the young couples.
• Evans the Death - The undertaker, who dreams of youth. A funeral director (also known as a mortician or undertaker) is someone involved in the business of Funeral rites
• Mr. Waldo - Rabbitcatcher, barber, herbalist, catdoctor, quack, dreams of his mother, her regret and his many unhappy, failed marriages due to his alcoholism and trouble making. An herbalist is A person whose life is dedicated to the economic or medicinal uses of plants
• Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard - The owner of a guest house, who must have everything clean and dreams of her late husbands.
• Mr. Ogmore - Deceased, Linoleum salesman, late of Mrs. Linoleum is a Floor covering made from solidified Linseed oil (linoxyn in combination with Wood flour or cork dust over a Burlap or Canvas Ogmore-Pritchard.
• Mr. Pritchard - Deceased, failed bookmaker, late of Mrs. A bookmaker, bookie or turf accountant, is an organization or a person that takes bets and pays winnings depending upon results and depending on the nature Ogmore-Pritchard, committed suicide.
• Gossamer Beynon - The Schoolteacher (daughter of Butcher Beynon), dreams of a fox-like illicit love.
• Organ Morgan - The church organ player, has perturbed dreams of music and orchestras within the village. Cries out 'Help' in his sleep.
• Mr & Mrs Floyd - The cocklers, an elderly couple, seemingly the only couple to sleep peacefully in the village.
• Utah Watkins - The farmer, dreams of counting sheep that are smiling, bleating and knitting, just like his wife.
• Ocky Milkman - The milkman, dreams of pouring his milk into a river, regardless of expense. This article is about the occupation of milk delivery For the Phranc album see Milkman (album.
• Mr. Cherry Owen - Dreams of drinking, and yet, is unable to as the tankard turns into a fish, which he drinks.
• Police Constable Attila Rees - The policeman, relieves himself into his helmet at night, knowing somehow he will regret this in the morning.
• Mr. Willy Nilly - The postman, who delivers the post in his sleep.
• Mrs. Willy Nilly - Who dreams of being spanked by teacher for being late for school, every night of her married life.
• Sinbad Sailor - The barman, dreams of Gossamer Beynon.
• Mae Rose Cottage - Dreams of meeting the right man by being a rebel.
• Bessie Bighead - Hired help, dreams of the one man that kissed her.
• Mrs. Butcher Beynon - Butcher Beynon's wife, dreams of the horrors that her husband commits.
• Butcher Beynon - The butcher, dreams of riding pigs and shooting giblets.
• Rev. Eli Jenkins - The Reverend, poet and preacher, dreams of Eisteddfodau. See also An eisteddfod (aɪˈstɛðvəd Welsh ə(iˈstɛðvɔd plural eisteddfodau or eisteddfods) is a Welsh Festival
• Mr. Pugh - School master, dreams of murdering his wife.
• Mrs. Organ Morgan - Grocerist, dreams of silence.
• Mary Ann Sailors - Dreams of the Garden of Eden. Not to be confused with Eden Gardens.The Garden of Eden ( Hebrew "pleasure" גַּן עֵדֶן Arabic: جنات عدن,
• Dai Bread - The baker, dreams of harems.
• Polly Garter - Dreams of babies.
• Nogood Boyo - Dreams of Mrs. Dai Bread Two in a wet corset.
• Lord Cut Glass - Dreams of clocks.
• Lilly Smalls - Maid of the Beynons', dreams of love and a fantasy life.

Castings

External links

• The Life and Work of Dylan Thomas Full version of Under Milk Wood with the complete play in embedded audio
• Audio Book (mp3) from Under Milk Wood, translated into French by J. Bridget Turner (born February 22, 1939) is an British actress Sir David John White OBE, known by his Stage name David Jason (born 2 February 1940 is an English Actor, known Rachel Roberts ( 20 September, 1927 – 26 November, 1980) was a Welsh actress noted for her fervour and passion Roberts gave Susan Penhaligon (born Manila, Philippines, 3 July 1949) is a British television actress best known for her appearances in the Ieuan Rhys Williams, born in 1909 was a Welsh television and radio actor French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people B. Brunius
• Text of Under Milk Wood, from Project Gutenberg Australia. Project Gutenberg of Australia, abbreviated as PGA, is an Internet site which was founded in 2001 by Colin Choat