4YA to Broadcast Thrilling Drama

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 27, 16 January 1931, Page 17

4YA to Broadcast Thrilling Drama

Life in the Amazon Wilds

N Friday evening, January 23, 4YA will present an interesting drama entitled "Up-Stream." The libretto, the work of Clifford Bax, was written in 1922, The scene of the story is near the source of the Amazon River, in South America; the time 1876. The play concerns. incidents in the lives. of the pioneers of that part of the country. The principal characters are English, with the exception of two, a Brazilian engineer and a Spanish-Am-erican lady. They are headed with George Gillespie, chief engineer of an expedition for the opening up of Bolivia. Others are Henry Hookér, ‘aged 26, a small, insignificant, and irresolute man, one of Gillespie’s engineers; Jonathan Wise, a doctor; Rudolf Gottman, clerk to Gillespie; Arthur Wyatt, aged 26, a naturalist; Garcia Soriana, aged 52, the Brazilian engineer; and Gilda, aged 20, ward of Gillespie, a Spanish-American. Gillespie is accused by Wyatt of sacrificing his best friend in the jungle, through failing to provide him with supplies when these were urgently

required. Wyatt’s friend, Jim, was sent on a message up the Amazon, and Gillespie was to follow, but, according to Wyatt, purposely failed to do so. The attitude Wyatt takes with regard to his treatment of Gillespie is very interesting, and he ends up by resigning, and certifies that he is leaving immediately to report Gillespie’s treatment of Jim to the company directors. Wyatt's story would cost Gillespie his position and would also imperil him in many other directions, including the future of his ward, Gilda. He therefore _ takes drastic steps to stop Wyatt from leaving the company, and he entices Gilda to use all the power she possesses to this end. This section. of the play is most dramatic, but perhaps it. would spoil the climax to divulge the outeome of the difficult situation.. The drama contains many exciting incidents of jungle life, and is a real thriller, Major F, H. Lampen, who has had wide experience before the microphone and as producer for the Dunedin Operatic and Dramatic Society, will produce ‘the drama. . ; ‘ --t