This past Saturday marked the last performance of Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood here at Redeemer. Let me just say- Holy skills, Batman! I’m sure those who were fortunate enough to have the chance to see the show will agree with me. Let me take a few minutes to give each actor the recognition they deserve for such a fantastic show.
Let’s start with the two narrators, Emily Heide and Jesse Burke. Constantly onstage, these two pretty much blew my mind- not only did they narrate throughout the play, they both took on other roles as well. Personally, I have no idea how they were able to memorize all those crazily poetic lines, but somehow they did. Somehow.
Greg Beenen played six or so characters, among them a cussing dairy farmer, a dead guy, and a fellow who just so happened to have two wives... I especially enjoyed how he played the meddling postman, who along with his wife steams open everyone’s letters and reads them before delivery.
Mrs. Ogmore-Pritchard, played by Sally Beresford, was a formidable and hilarious character. Her staunch cleanliness and rule over her two deceased husbands had the crowd chuckling. Sally played a few more characters, one of them being the long-suffering Mrs. Cherry Owen. Her transitions from putting on the appearance of a happy wife, to showing the sadness she was really feeling was done excellently.
Emily Groot did a fantastic job as each of her roles, one notable role being that of Lily Smalls. The scene where she ridicules herself in the mirror was hilarious! She played some of the sweetest characters in the play, and had the audience smiling throughout.
Jordan Guetter had a few really great roles; Mr. Waldo, making too much time with the ladies, Lord Cut-Glass, with his clocks, and Jack Black, the severely upright Bible thumper, to name a few. His song at the end of the play was fantastic, and just so happened to be stuck in my head for quite some time afterwards.
Some strong singing skills were demonstrated by Nathan Hicks, in the role of Reverend Eli Jenkins. His transition from playing a Reverend to the drunkard, Cherry Owen, was quite something. One could say that his tankard drinking skills were nearly as good as his singing!
Paige Louter was amazing in her many roles, with memorable characters like the icy Mrs. Pugh, the long-suffering Mrs. Organ-Morgan, dead Rosie Probert, and the little girl, Gwennie. Her song also remains stuck in my head...
The role of Polly Garter was pulled off by Jessica Marshall, who did an incredible job. She was able to completely change the mood of the scenes she was in. Her wistful song and defeated look had everyone empathising with her.
Pieter Schalk was an excellent tour guide, tailor, and potential murderer, to name a few. His depiction of the long-suffering Mr. Pugh, who dreams of poisoning his wife, was a definite favourite with the audience.
Steven Siemens had the audience dying with laughter for most of the show, which made his portrayal of the blind Captain Cat all the more impressive. His blank, staring eyes, and even the way he would return to his chair were spot on.
Jonathan Silverthorn was superb in all his roles. I was especially impressed with how he played Nogood Boyo- you wouldn’t think a strapping young lad with a beard could play a convincing little boy, but he pulled it off wonderfully.
Lauryn Vetro did a wonderful job as, among other things, Mrs. Dai Bread Two, a seductive gypsy. It must have been an intimidating role-but she pulled it off well. Her fortune telling scene was especially good.
Jessica Watson was hilarious as the waddling Mrs. Dai Bread one, and had the audience cracking up every time she walked across the stage. Her portrayal as the lonely Bessie Bighead was fantastic, you really felt sorry for her.
The cast and crew did an amazing job. Ray Louter’s directing, Chris Cuthill’s set (along with the hard work put in by Tyler VanHolst and the painting crew), Sam Frisk’s lighting design, the music provided by Aaron Craig...everything pulled together for one impressive show.
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