Under Milk Wood, Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Runs until June 22 THIS is a disappointing production of Dylan Thomas's much loved play.

Its Welsh essence is all but submerged as the actors, most of them fighting a losing battle, struggle with the poetry.

Under Milk Wood,Zafter all, is a play for voices. Too much time was spent changing hats and other items of clothing to denote switches of character, and too little time on making sure the audience heard every word and appreciated every nuance.

Lilting Welsh accents were too little in evidence and much of the warmth and humour of the play was lost as the actors flitted about more like refugees from a farce than the inhabitants of a tiny village.

Director Kate Raper sets a cracking pace, but Thomas needs to be savoured in small bites, not gulped down in large chunks. There was too much emphasis on visual matters to the detriment of the text.

Richard Foxton's set was big and busy enough to illustrate the claustrophobic effect of village life and demanded less frenetic action from the actors.

Christopher Wilkson as Eli Jenkins/Mog Edwards/ Lord Cut Glass showed understanding of what Thomas was about. He slyly brought out the comic heart of the characters by highlighting their idiosyncrasies in a perceptive and gentle way.

And Howard Gay captured the spirit of Thomas too as he revealed the sexual frustrations which rippled under the surface of Sinbad Sailors and Nogood Boyo. His Organ Morgan role was also a delight.

Nicola Reynolds was funny in the part of prim Miss Price and Robinson Samson was at his best as the plotting Mr Pugh.

But overall,ZUnder Milk Wood,Zwhich brings the Octagon's current season to a close, fails to illuminate the dark humour of Thomas's wonderful characters.

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