Galapagos Featured from 2YA

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 8, 6 September 1929, Page 3

Galapagos Featured from 2YA

Unique Radio Play on September 6

ba AGOS" was broadcast from 5 ‘1YA some months ago so successfully that it was-the basis of conversa- \ tion for some weeks afterwards. This play has been broadcast three times by the British Broadcasting Company and ranked very highly in the popularity contest held at the end of last year. Six years ago a geographical, expedition’ from Harvard University, under the ‘leadership of Mr. William Beeche, returned to America after three. months’ stay ‘on Galapagos Island. The Press gave the expedition much publicity and as a result Martin Christiansen, an able-seaman, procured an interview with Mr. William Beeche. In this interview, the man of the sea told the scientist the story of a much less enjoyable stay at ‘the. volcano-born island of Galapagos. wha result of this interview, Mr. Wilrim Beeche devoted a chapter of his book "Galapagos-World’s End,’ to the trials and tribulations of the becalmed crew of the good ship Alexander. This chapter was the inspiration of the radio play "Galapagos." THD story is similar to Coleritige’s tale of the "Ancient Mariner"’the tale of "cursed ship becalmed." After five months of aimless drifting without a breeze, the crew of the Alexander desert their ship and make for Galapagos, an island which is known to be in the vicinity. This island proyes to be little more than a voleanic rock on which there is neither: vegetation nor fresh water. The mariners live in turtle and brackish ‘water which they. find in the-rock-cavities. The account ofthe killing of the turtles and the seals surpasses even Defoe’s "Robinson Crusoe,’. and the homely tongue of Martin paints vivid pictures. The finding of signs of previous. habitation and of the stocking is indeed sad, and the whole play is characteriSed by a bitter irony. To these men the days were as long as years, and Martin says that there was little of the lives of his shipmates that he did not know, as they of his. Association in danger such as this forges ponds of comradeship that can never be broken and a love of a man for his friend that is almost holy. The glee at the finding of the matches, the only: touch of humour so far, the sighting of the boat, all is related with a charm that smacks of the sea and the *

sea listener shudders with feelings of eeriness and mystery. A tear may be shed at the death of poor Jeff and at the drowning of poor Herman, but the climax of the piece is the growing insanity of Burton. Very pathétically the crew search about for a song to sing to help pass the endless tropical night. Someone suggests

"Home, Sweet Home," and this is more than poor crazed Burton -can stand. "Oh, no, not that one. Please don’tnot that one." The playing of appropriate musie by a-sympathetic orchestra and the singing of sea chanties create a wonderful atmosphere. The listener can almost feel the tang of the salt in the air, ‘and "The soft sigh of southern breezes in the air, And the bold burst of bréakers on the beach."

The difficulties in the production of &- successful radio-play are without number, but the opportunities for ef-, fect in "Galapagos" are fully utilised. The story pulses with vividness and human interest and the characters live before the listeners. Nightmares can be guaranteed to the imaginative, the personnel of which will be great naked

men with long unkempt beards, hungry eyes and clawing hands. "Galapagos" was on the air from 4YA on August 30, and, as with 1YA, it met with phenomenal success, and many 4YA listeners have expressed their intention to hear the play again from 2YA, Success from Wellington is assured. Careful planning under the direction of Mr. T. F. Montague can have only one result-success. Listeners who appreciate drama should not fail to tune in on September 6. /