Milson is dead.

Sat, 19 Jan 2013, 03:56 pm

Bass Guy9 posts in thread

Leave your valedictions, vitriol, bouquets and brickbats here. Farewell, o brilliant tyrant.

Thread (9 posts)

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Bass GuySat, 19 Jan 2013, 03:56 pm

Leave your valedictions, vitriol, bouquets and brickbats here. Farewell, o brilliant tyrant.

Walter PlingeSat, 19 Jan 2013, 04:53 pm

Long live Milson

He was a tyrant and a genius. The tooth, the spittle, the ever-present smoke, the cutting wit and the inspired direction. A contradiction, capable of the greatest acts of thoughful generosity and the basest bullying. But whatever you thought of him, he knew his stuff, and he taught me a lot. Perth theatre has lost one of it's few remaining, and perhaps its greatest, characters. I'll miss him. 'Our reach should always exceed our grasp, or what's a heaven for.' Vale. Leah Maher, known to Milso as 'Legal Woman'.

SchulzeSat, 19 Jan 2013, 05:33 pm

The Great Man

I haven't posted on this website in many a long year but feel compelled by this extraordinarily sad news. I saw him at his best and his worst and many times in between. In every case Mils was a sight to behold and a force to be reckoned with. For those lucky enough to have worked with him it was an experience that would never be forgotten. You learnt more doing one production with the great man than you would learn in any ten other productions. I will miss the cranky old bugger greatly. Rest peacefully Milso. And if you don't, make sure you let everyone around you know about it.

Walter PlingeSat, 19 Jan 2013, 10:29 pm

John Milson's passing

Ditto on the previous comments. Wonderful man off stage and generous to a fault. On stage, absolute tyrant. Always had his favourites and made you regret having taken the role on in the first place. Learned a lot but was it worth it? Not too sure. Jury is still out for me. RIP anyway John.

David AshtonSun, 20 Jan 2013, 04:58 pm

from my perspective

John was great to work with, in his earlier years at "Her Majesty's" he was one of the few directors who knew and could tell me exactly what he wanted and we didn't waste hours on endless plotting and changes of mind like some other directors.And the end product was seldom if ever disappointing, I was also involved with him in the early days of "The Hole in the Wall" in Leederville where we did whatever it took to either get in the crowd or take the show to them.I will miss him.

TaureanSun, 20 Jan 2013, 06:35 pm

The Tech's Director....

John was, as David stated, one of the best and easiest Directors a tech could ever work with. He knew absolutely what he wanted.

"I want this... at this level.... at this cue..."

Seldom were there changes from that....once the stage was set - that was it.

Yes, the man could be a "tyrant" with his cast/s - but only when he could see that the person he was dealing with had more to give than they thought they were capable of ... and believe me - he could see it. Many times he told me during smoke breaks at rehearsals and even during runs... "Well Gray - F*ck 'em - I know (insert name here) can do it!"

Love him or hate him - John left an indelible mark on all that worked with him.

I for one will sorely miss him.

Chookas John. Your memory will live on.

"Gray"

TazzbearSun, 20 Jan 2013, 07:17 pm

To A Friend

John you were a person that never saw grey. What you said was what you meant. People took you the wrong way a lot of times. Yes you were a tyrant to your cast but you always got the best that they could offer to a performance. All the people that have had you in their lives will never forget you for the mentoring and the friendship you gave. You were a teacher, a director and most of all my friend. You gave me advise when I asked without a blink of an eye. Yes I was gray's other half as you always addressed me. Love you or hate you John where ever you are now be at peace. Vale

Walter PlingeMon, 21 Jan 2013, 09:20 am

Story in The West Australian

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/breaking/15887371/theatre-legend-takes-final-ovation-on-deathbed/

Walter PlingeWed, 23 Jan 2013, 03:24 pm

John Milson

When John knew he was running out of time and on the way home from rehearsals for "Falsettos", he said to me "Well this is Going to be an Interesting year" I will always remember that. What a remarkable man! Jennifer Friend : Stage Manager

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