THINGS TO COME A Run Through The Programmes

New Zealand Listener, Volume 1, Issue 17, 20 October 1939, Page 6

THINGS TO COME

A Run

Through The Programmes

HERE are people who think that the plays of the last century must have been written in his spare moments by Noah on the Ark. They argue that things must be real on the stage, and that audiences no longer want their villains served up in long black whiskers and tail-coat, their heroes with fair wavy locks and interestingly spiritual mien. The break away from the old melodrama, which operated under its own sort of Queensberry rules, came with a play called "Caste," by Tom Robertson. "Caste" sounds rather stilted, perhaps, in 1939, but it is a memorable play in dramatic history. Listeners will hear it from 2YA Wellington, on Sunday, October 22, at 9.25 p.m. Silly It has already been recorded on these pages that our artist has a contrary mind. Here we have F. W. Vosseler, a perfectly sane, serious, and enthusiastic lover of The Wide Open Spaces, giving a talk from 2YA

on Wednesday, October 25, at 8.40 p.m., on "Making the Best of Summer Holidays,’ and this artist fellow has to spoil everything by looking on the absolutely blackest side of things. If Mr. Vosseler had decided to talk about the gentle summer rain we should probably have had a drawing of someone dying of thirst in the Urewera Desert. Horrid Thought The Rev. Lawrence M. Rogers, despite his calling, has prompted an unholy thought. He has announced his intention to talk from 3YA, at 9.25 p.m. on Tuesday, October 24, on "Modern Discoveries: Picture Words to Printing Press." If man had not found words to clarify his thoughts and means of writing them down to assist his memory, we shouid have had no coherent research, no electricity, no radio, and no Mr. Rogers. Worst of all, we

should have had no The Listener, listeners would not have heard of Mr. Rogers, and Mr. Rogers would have had no audience, and no M.A. degree. It all sounds pretty important, iy and we're hoping to hear him telling us all about it. Strong Poison Which do you prefer in a murder story, death by strong poison, or by some blunt instrument? If you are interested in crime, real and imaginary, you, will hear something to your advantage when G. S. Thomson speaks at 8.40 p.m. from 4YA on Monday, October 23, on "Poison in History and Literature." Mr. Thomson will deal with some of the poisoners of history (he acquits Lucretia Borgia) and will comment on the methods of modern novelists who bump off their victims by this means. A Difference In Splitting There was a Maori who could see no good in Rutherford’s splitting of the atom. "Why not he split the kauri shingle, eh?" There must also be many Europeans to whom such work seems useless and incomprehensible. However, popular interest in the infinitely small as well as in the infinitely large is considerable, and no doubt there will be many listeners when "Man and the Atom" is discussed in the Winter Course series at 1YA on Thursday, October 26, at 7.30 p.m. A New Vitamin Dr. Elizabeth Bryson has thought of a new vitamin. "Who knows," she says, "but that one day we may discover yet another vitamin? It may turn out to be the little vitamin of gaiety, of daring, of a little rebellion against the precision of the expert." This is the theme of the last talk in her series "What Shall We Eat?" She appeals for "Fun and Freshness" in food, and is bound to convince everyone who listens to her from 2YA on Tuesday, October 24, at 8.43 p.m. Three And One : Does anybody read Ouida now? "Under . Two Flags" may survive, but we doubt if ~ any of her other work lives in her centennial . year. Her glamorous romances had a great vogue at one time. "Ouida" is one of the cele- — brities treated in the opening instalment of "Notable Centenaries of 1939," a series to be heard from 1YA on Sunday afternoons, beginning on Sunday, October 22, at 2 p.m. She keeps company with Paul Cezanne, the French artist, one of the greatest influences

in the modern art world; Lady Bancroft, who _ With her husband helped to revolutionise f 7 * ae English acting and production; and John Pounds, the crippled Portsmouth cobbler who began the Ragged School Movement. A mixed bag. Everybody Sing! There must be some deep urge to account for the fact that some people will sing, even if such an event is manifestly undesirable. From old Mr. Smith-Brown who protests to his hostess that "he really couldn't sing tonight" and firmly intends to before the evening is out, to the blushing boy soprano, once someone plays the piano the rot sets in. However, everybody does enjoy a good round of choruses, and that is why the item to be presented from 2YA on Wednesday, October 25 at 8.8 p.m., "Round The Piano" should be well received. What's In A Name? Despite the contempt implied in the cliché, there’s a very great deal in a name, as any film star’s publicity agent will tell you-if you catch him off guard. What would Joan Crawford have been if she had remained Lucille La Sueur, and how many hearts would Ramon Novarro have broken as Ramon Samaniegos? It is the same everywhere. Names seem to have made history as often as history has made 1ames. Some of the most interesting examples will be discussed in the series "What’s in a Name?" beginning at 3 p.m, from 2YA on Sunday, October 22. Literature For Listeners There have been readings and literary talks on the air before now, but during the coming week Auckland. Christchurch, and Dunedin have assembled an unusually fine group of great prose writers. In Auckland. Professor W. A. Sewell changes from poetry to prose in his "Personal Anthology" and has selected favourite passages from Jeremy * Taylor and Sir Thomas Browne. Professor Sewell is to be heard from 1YA at 8 p.m. on Friday, October 27. From 3YA, O. L. Simmance has this week also included Browne in his readings programme (Wednesday, October 25, at 8 p.m.), and 4YA completes the group with readings by Professor T. D. Adams from Alexander Smith, on The Writing of Essays; from Leigh Hunt, on The

Cat by the Fire; and from Dr, Samuel Johnson on Boswell and Carlyle (Friday, 9.33 p.m.). Rustic Histrionics As the philosopher cried, "Go back to nature." Buried deep in the heart of rustic England is the BBC programme, "The Village Concert." The histrionic powers of the parish are put to the test as the good yokels and yokelesses(!) take the stage. Presided over by the deah vicar, they give of their

best, despite disparaging comment by the assembled multitude. There is plenty of variety, and lots of fun; for example, there is one old dear of fifty who sings with great élan songs from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," complete with half-portion echo in the wings. Listeners should enjoy this programme when it is presented from 1YA Auckland, at 9.48 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25. He Died Young: The Gods, we know, seldom give iii life and fame at the same time. It was certainly the case with Chopin. Loving good things like music and friendship, he died at thirtynine. He was a lyric poet, and translated everything he felt into. melody. But he could not stand the wearing life of féting and died in Paris in 1849. Four piano compositions by Chopin will be presented by Haagen Holenbergh from 3YA Christchurch, at 8.40 p.m. on Sunday, October 22. hn a 0 mete