ED2015 4/5 Reviews ED2015 Theatre Reviews

Dylan Thomas – The Man, The Myth (Theatre Tours International / Guy Masterson Productions)

By Sarah Murphy | Published on Tuesday 25 August 2015

What’s Dylan Thomas like, according to his grandchildren? We catch a privileged glimpse in this peep-show biography, narrated documentary-style by Hannah Ellis (D.T.’s granddaughter), with Guy Masterson lending a formidable voice to Dylan’s diaries, letters, poems. This collaboration carries an irresistible sense of fate: Masterson is the nephew of Richard Burton, whose baritone became synonymous with Thomas after performing ‘Under Milk Wood’. There’s something alchemical to the Welsh poet’s self-inventing language, and this is channelled by Masterson, who doesn’t ‘enact’ poetry but inhabits, possesses, is possessed. A treat of music, honey, impishness – in supernova-brief appearances. Says Hannah, e.e. cummings was so moved by one of Dylan’s performances that he walked the streets for hours. I might just do the same.

Assembly Roxy, until 22 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Sarah Murphy]