Plays on the Air

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 50, 27 June 1930, Page 7

Plays on the Air

-- \ i ee (To the Editor.) Sir,-I read with interest the article in your edition of the 13th instant,: contributed by "Call Up," anent "Seeing Radio from a New Angle." I was especially interested in Mr. J. M. Clark’s views on the production of plays on the air, for Mr. Olark (an old.friend of mine) is a gentleman of long experience, especially in elocutionary work of every kind. I agree with much that he says as to the standard of plays’ on the air and the need for full rehearsals, etc. so that the presentations should not devégip into mere "readings"’-and. often very indifferent readings at that. At the same time I am greatly surprised at some of the other comments and views expressed by Mr. Clark. It appears from the article that he has held the view right along that threeact plays could be successfully presented over the air. Well, I held similar views, but there was this difference: I not only held those views, but I presented the plays, and it was not till I had presented something like 40 or more of them from 1YA (a number of these being three-act plays) that anybody else ventured into the field. Then, when it was seen that the thing could be done, and that hundreds of. listeners from’ all parts of the Dominion expressed pleasure and ap-proval-of our work. Others came forward, after two or three years, to try their hands-some good, some _ bad. With the possible exception of one attempt at 2YA (which was not repeated), the Auckland Comedy Players, under my direction, were the pioneers in this work of presenting plays on the air, and for a long time they were the only ones. Mr. Clark says he had _ the temerity to present a tragedy in blank verse some weeks ago (and I have no doubt it was excellently done), but actually I had the temerity to present a tragedy in blank verse ("Macbeth") two or three years ago (I haven’t the exact date before me), and several three-act plays before that. Altogether I have presented about 70 plays on the air from 1YA, and have introduced something like 60 different . performers to the public, which is something of an achievement. All credit is due to Mr. Clark and others who present plays, if they do them adequately, but I think full credit should be given to those who led the way and showed _ thd the thing could be done. Innumerable letters and personal congratulations from perfect strangers go to prove that our work has been appreciated. I agree with Mr. Clark that radio plays should be clean, and that sex matters should be avoided. By all means let us keep the home circle untainted; but surely "Paolo and Francesca," for instance, deals almost entirely with matters unsuitable for the home circle. It is, in fact, the story of a handsome young man who makes passionate (and successful) love to his _ brother’s. wife out in the garden, and, again, if I remember, in her private \ room late at night; and just about here \the outraged husband discovers their secret, and (quite rightly, I should say) slays the pair of ’em out . of. hand. Surely this is not a suitable theme -for the home circle and the . children! Fie, Mr. Clark.

I. F.

MONTAGUE