Broadcast of "The Merry Wives"

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 31, 15 February 1929, Page 2

Broadcast of "The Merry Wives"

Seaceessful Relay by 2YA and Rebroadcast

by 3YA

gAS# Friday evening an historical broadcast was performed by 2YA, Wellington, and 3YA, Christchurch, when two scenes from Shakespeare’s famous comedy, ‘The Merry Wives of Windsor," were relayed from the Grand i ae House, Wellington, where the play was being performed by the Allan Wilkie Shakespearean Company. . The relay was most capably accomhed by 2¥A, and rebroadcast by "A, This was the first occasion in Sew Zealand on which a Shakegpearean performance by a professional company was put on the air. The ivansmission by 2YA and the rebroadcast by 3YA was strikingly successful, fon word by the performers coming ough with extraordinary clearness, thanks to the elaborate precautions by the technicians of 2YA and 3YA. " LARGE and appreciative audience was present at the Grand Opera FRouse,. Wellington, to witness the performance of "The Merry Wives of Windsor." The only visible indication that the plnyers were about to be heard by a vast radio audience of over 80,000 people was the unobstrusive presence on the stage of two varnished cedar boxes placed close to the footlights on the floor of the stage between the lights and the performers. These two boxes were each placed ‘about 15 feet from the end of

the footlights, and being right on the floor of the stage could scarcely be noticed. These boxes comprised the latest type of condenser microphones, noted for the freedom from any hissing noise which is characteristic of the older type of double-button carbon microphones. . A special telephone line from the side of the stage to the studio of 2YA, Wellington, afforded instantaneous communication with the switch-board room at the studio. The microphone lines and telephone line were very exhaustively tested during the afternoon, and only when the technicians were satisfied that the maximum results were assured were the tests concluded. Nothing was left to chance in connection with the technical department of the relay, but the station director had also to rely on the human element. Strangely enough, the latter failed him, for, by some oversight, the relay was switched off before the third scene which had been announced to be broadcast. This was a most unfortunate contretemps, as the two scenes which had been put on the air were incomplete without the famous "buck-basket" scene, It was like a story without a finish. During the enactment of the delightful "letter-reading" scene by Mistresses Ford and Page (Miss Hunter-Watts and Miss Lorna Forbes), which was the first to be relayed, Mr. Allan Wilkie himself listened in by means of a pair of headphones connected with the relay lines. He expressed himself as well pleased with the effect. In the next scene to-be broadcast-that of the Garter Inn-Mr. Wilkie took a prominent yart in the role of Sir John Falstaff, with Mr. Alexander Marsh, the distinguished English actor, appearing as "Master Brook," the disguised husband of Mistress Ford. . The dialogue was crisp and clear by yadio, and Sir John Falstaff’s inimitable laugh and the uproarious merriment of the audience were reproduced with unerring fidelity. During the brief wait before the mirth-provoking "buck-basket scene" the relay was suddenly switched off, much to the disappointment of thousands of listeners.

NTERVIEWED after the performance, Mr. Allan Wilkie expressed his pleasure with the completely satisfactory report which had already come to hand regarding the broadcast. He remarked, "It is my regret that I was unable to have my radio audience of 80,000 people in the theatre here tonight." The Shakespearean programme on Sunday evening from the studio of 2YA, Wellington, and again relayed by 3YA, Christchurch, was a brilliant success. Mr, Allan Wilkie gave an effective address on "Some Popular Fallacies concerning Shakespeare," and trenchantly dealt with certain erroneous conclusions expressed in newspaper critiques. The supplementary items included vocal and instrumental Shakespearean items by members of Mr. Wilkie’s company and others, with appropriate gramophone records interspersed.