"Night Porter" "In Port"

Radio Record, Volume VI, Issue 22, 9 December 1932, Page 3

"Night Porter"

"In Port"

Next Tuesday, December 13, Clement May and Company will present from 2YA two twentyminute sketches-‘"The Night Porter," a breezy comedy by Harry Walls, concerning the difficulties in which a young married couple find themselves involved after a tiff, and

"In_ Port," a strong drama, with an unexpected ending. Short, crisp plays such as these are always popular with listeners, especially when produced by an entertainer of the calibre | of : Clement May, who is one of the few radio personalities in this country who has mastered the difficult technique of the microphone.

DOMESTIC tiff; a runaway wife; an anxious husband who pursues her and accidentally discovers her at an hotel, registered as a single woman: a suspicious night porter; a theft in a railway cloakroom; a belated husband ; the police-all these are combined in the "Night Porter," into twenty minutes of breezy dialogue. The scene is laid in the lobby of the White Swan, an hotel in the English country town of Chisledawk. There are the usual complications of people coming in at all hours of the night, with consequent misgivings of the night porter, who is vaguely suspicious of everybody, especially those arriving without luggage. A young woman, a Mrs. Turner, arrives and demands a room. When cross-questioned by the night porter, she passes herself off as single and an actress, giving her name as Billie Bardolph. __ Shortly afterward the husband, while seeking for her, finds him-

seit at the same hotel. he inquires ‘ior her, but is told she is not there. However, during the temporary absence of the porter he discovers her accidentally. He explains how the letter she had discovered in his "pdécket was written twelve months . before their marriage, and they agree to make it up. The husband, however, has already booked a room for himself, and he suggests that, in the absence of the night porter, they amend the hotel register, giving their correct names. The wife then tells him that in a rage she has thrown away her wedding ring, and to rectify this the husband goes out to buy one. While he is out, the night porter returns, and the lady explains that her husband has arrived. The night porter is dubious, and, although shortly afterward the husband returns with the ring and supports his wife’s explanation, the night porter insists that they occupy separate rooms. As he remarks: "This is the White Swan, and we don’t want its feathers soiled."

There are further complications over a lady. who is wanted by the police for stealing from a railway cloakroom. Again, another lady phones the night porter saying that her husband hadn’t returned home, and as it was the governess’s night out, were they at the hotel together ? We will not spoil listeners’ enjoyment of the play by telling thera what happens, but the subsequent working out of the plot to its final happy ending is highly ingenious and very witty. 2% % * * HE next sketch, "In Port,’ is a strong drama, in direct contrast to "The Night Porter." The story deals with a murder case, in which the accused, Robert Adderley, is found guilty and sentenced to death. Later, the sentence is commuted to penal servitude, on the grounds of insanity. The story opens some time after, with the escape of the criminal from

gaol. The scene is laid in the bachelor apart ments of Judge Hatton, who sentenced Adderley to death. Fletcher, the Judge’s manservant, knowing the man is at large, is loath to leave his master, as he knows Adderley vowed after the trial that if ever he got free he would be revenged for being unjustly sentenced. However, the Judge tells Fletcher not to be uneasy as, though he fully expects a visit some time during the night, there is nothing to worry about. The escaped convict eventually arrives, and there ensues betweén him and the Judge a tense scene, which develops into a battle of wits. During this the Judge discloses something in connection with the dead woman which immediately disarms the con=« vict, and eventually he is persuaded te partake of supper and a glass of port. The finish of the story is quite unex+ pected, and will hold listeners to the very, last word.

CHARACTERS "Night Porter" (Harry Walls) Billie Bardolph (Mrs. Turner) .... ..+« Afargaret Campbell Tom Turner ......6- Robert Charlton Saunders (Day Porter) Will McKeon George (Night Porter) Clement May Scene: In the lobby of the White Swan, Chisledawk,

"In Port" (Harold Simpson.) Judge Hatton .......... Clement May Fletcher (his manservant) eae . Robert Charlton Robert Adderley (c an convict) . Will McKeon Scene: In the Judge’s ‘bachelor chambers.