A Mystery Play

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 35, 13 March 1931, Page 5

A Mystery Play

| by A Well-known Resident of New Zealand

ON Friday, March 13, 1931, the great unseen audience of New Zealand listeners-in will have the opportunity of hearing over the air,.from Station 1YA, Auckland, a mystery play entitled ‘"‘The Price." It will be produced by Mrs. Zoe Bartley-Baxter and her talented helpers. Knowing full well how this lady’s previous productions have been enjoyed by radio audiences, listeners may confidently expect an interesting interpretation of the work. Mrs. Bartley-Baxter’s efforts are always artistic and finished. The play was written by the wellknown Auckland surgeon, Dr. Geo. de Clive-Lowe,. a brilliantly versatile and intellectual man. The theme is one of revenge, but mysterious revenge. Until practically the last words are spoken no one will know the mysterious secret which the author has so cleverly hidden. ‘The dialogue is always tense and gripping. The situations are natural. There is no stilted striving after effect. When the climax is reached it is unexpected, sudden, and bewildering. 'The author is to be congratulated upon having hit upon a clever plot, and on having so ingeniously hidden the mystery. Dr. de Clive-Lowe. is not only a writer, but is a composer as well. He has also produced several works. One of the most beautiful entertainments that Aucklanders, or New Zealanders, have seen was produced by him. This was "Living Whist," and "Living Chess," at the first Auckland Wxhibition. He is the author-composer of "The Lady Typist," produced in Auckland in 1906, also author-composer of "The Tea Girl," and "The Gay Hussar." He composed the music for Mrs. Isobel Maude Clueti’s comic opera, "Sixes and Sevens," and set her delightful "Songs for Children" to music, The score of Mr. J. Youlin Birch’s comic opera, "Manuella," was Written by Dx. de Clive-Lowe, also the

score for the same author’s opera, ‘"The Golden Wedge." ‘ In 1908 Dr. de Clive-Lowe, together with the Rev. Father Farthing, produced "Maritana" in the old Opera House. The doctor conducted the work, and Miss. Rosina Buckman sang the name part. The late Mr. Tom Pollard played several of the doctor’s musical comedies and light operas throughout Australia and New Zealand. He has also written three historical tragedies in balnk-verse, "The Doge of Venice," "Caesar Borgia," and "A Royal Revenge," the last-named dealing with the murder of Rizzio, and the assassination of Darnley. Dr. de Clive-Lowe is a lover of good gramophone music and has all the best records in his extensive library. Radio interests him keenly, and-.he is a constant listener-in. For a'. great many years the doctor has acted as honorary surgeon to the J.C.W. firm, and to the theatre generally. ‘Therefore, he has been enabled to meet all the most interesting people of "stage-land." Many wonderful and lasting friendships have thus been formed with artists and artistes of note. There have been only two poi-songs written. One is that most delightful by Mr. Alfred Hill and the other, "Karo," written and composed by the doctor. It is to be regretted that the recording of this number is very poor, and does not do anything like justice to the song. Dr. de Clive-Lowe is well known as an interesting lecturer. His lectures embrace a wonderful field of subjects, and in style range from the gravely scientific to the humorously gay. From earliest boyhood he has been a keen entomologist, and has made a study of the lepidoptera and coleoptera of the British Isles and of the North Island of New Zealand. He is a collector of old engravings (of which he has a wonderful collection), etchings, and old pewter. He himself is no mean artist in water-colour. He is an enand hes donk \

work in all branches of this artlandscape, -cinematography,=. bromoil, and both micro-photography and photomicrography. When "The Price’ is produced at 1YA on Friday evening, it will be quite interesting to note how it is received by listeners-in, knowing that it has been written by a man whose life has been, and is so full-may we say "packed full’-of all those beautiful things which really count in life.