DRAMA

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 155, 29 December 1938, Page 15

DRAMA

The first play to be broadcast by the N.B.S. to usher in the drama hours from IYA, Auckland, in the New Year is "Semi-Detached," which is a radio adaptation of P. G. Wodehouse's hilarious novel, "Sam the Sudden." This author should need little introduction to listeners, for he is one of the few first-rank 'English authors of today whose works have given thousands of readers many a hearty laugh by their inimitable wit and humour. Wodehouse is also a proven dramatist with a long list of stage successes to his credit. Some of his plays and stories have proved just as successful on the films, so there is little reason to doubt that he will succeed on the air. The adaptation of "Sam the Sudden" has been particularly well done, and listeners are assured of am extremely bright and amusing hour of radio entertainment as they follow the hilarious adventures of Sam Shotter land his strange companion Hash Todhunter. The play is a National Broadcasting Service production, and will be presented from IYA, Auckland, on Sunday night next at 9.5 p.m. Tonight from 4YA, Dunedin, will be heard what is described as "A mosaic Of actuality and letters," which is entitled "London Traffic." This is a 8.8.C. recorded feature programme which deals with the history of the traffic of London, a subject in which the whole history of the capital can be traced. Compiled and produced for the 8.8.C. by Felix Felton, listeners are assured of a high standard of presentation.

On Monday night next at 9.30 p.m. from 2YA, Wellington, will be heard a 8.8.C. recorded programme that should be of considerable interest to listeners who are lovers of England and the English countryside. This is a programme entitled "The Heart of England," which takes the form of a broadcast that covers as many aspects as possible of the Midland Counties. Into this programme are introduced local characters, folk music from the counties, etc., and listeners will hear the various dialects spoken as they really are. The musical numbers in the progE|&mme include such songs as "John Peel" and "The Warwickshire Lad," and there will also be heard extracts from John Masefield's poem, "Oh, London Town's a Fine Town," G. K. Chesterton's "A Cider Song," and John Drinkwater's "Cotswold Love." The whole programme is excellently iknit together into a chronicle that brings to live the essence of the Midlands.