In addition to the below, I promise an opportunity of sgwrs Cymraeg
GOOD NIGHT, DYLAN
2014 is the centenary of the birth of the brilliant but controversial Welsh writer, Dylan Thomas. In Wales, the festival in his honour has lasted a whole year and has involved a remarkable range of activities and celebrities but one major question has gone unanswered: how exactly did he die?
His tempestuous life ended soon after his thirty-ninth birthday in 1953. The popular belief is that he drank himself to death, but this has long been queried. His most famous poem is probably Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night, in which he urges the reader to fight against death. For Dylan himself, the end was unexpected and, until recently, unexplained.
Good Night, Dylan explores the dramatic events leading up to his death and looks back on his early life and writings. Using vital recent research, author Clive Woosnam, president of the Dylan Thomas Society of Australia, analyses the evidence in what has been one of the most amazing real-life literary whodunits of the Twentieth Century.
At the time of his collapse, Dylan was in New York for readings of his now famous play for voices, Under Milk Wood. Good Night, Dylan uses the same play-for-voices approach: seven actors at microphones interweaving their stories and piecing together the explosive life of the poet and the remarkable truth of his death. There is plenty of humour amid the tragedy, with short excerpts from Dylan’s letters, stories and poems.
The performance will take place at 2.00pm on Sunday 2 November in the main auditorium of 99-on-York (the Bowlers Club) in the City. For bookings please phone Helmi on 9597 6628 or 0412 635 976. For further information, please email clivewoosnam@hotmail.com. Tickets are just $10 for DTSA members and $15 for non-members. You don’t need to send money but it is important to book.
It is actually a copy of the flyer announcing the event, not my words, but Clive Woosnam’s, the charismatic and energetic president of the DTSA. I believe his theory has to do with medical mis-diagnosis. Should be a fun afternoon, in any case.
I will be there as a member of DTSA (Dyland Thomas Society of Australia)
It will be a lot of fun and is to be held right in Sydney CBD. Clive is away on tour with the Sydney Welsh Choir so there will be lots to report when they come home
Myfanwy Evans. Rose Bay, Sydney
Wel, here’s a precis of what happened to poor Dylan:
Dylan was admitted to hospital and mis-diagnosed as having alcoholic poisoning (the quantity of ‘18 whiskies’ that Dylan was supposed to have had the night before can not be substantiated)
He had acute bronchitis (aggravated by his chain-smoking), and the morphine he was given in hospital made this worse. Morphine is not indicated for alcohol poisoning, in any case
He developed pneumonia while in coma in hospital.
Despite some of the hospital staff protesting at this treatment, the doctor in charge persisted with it
Cause of death: pneumonia
Conclusion: medical malpractice due to mis-diagnosis
Diolch yn fawr Louis. It was a joy to meet you and your lovely wife. I enjoyed meeting you both.
Rwy’n flyn. Y’r wyf yn dysgu cymraeg. I am also very shy on that level and my mind clams up completely under pressure. I am slightly better one on one, …quietly.
Prynhawn da. Tan tro nesa
Myfanwy