"IT WAS LUCK," SAYS LOLA KELLY

Radio Record, Volume XII, Issue 29, 30 December 1938, Page 5

"IT WAS LUCK," SAYS LOLA KELLY

Wellington Girl Is Making A Name For Herself In Australian Radio PROBABLY not one in a hundred New Zealand listeners take a critical enough interest in their radio fare to have noticed that the yoice of Luana in the serial, "Mutiny on the Bounty", was also the voice of Meg in "Little Women." And that the same voice plays an important part in half a dozen other broadcast serials. But it is of interest to note thot the voice of Luana is, in real life, that of Lola Kelly, of Wellington, and thet she is one of several New Zealanders who are doing very well for themselves in Australian radio.. She arrived back in Wellington last week on a short holiday visit.

was a little over a year ago that Miss Kelly went over to Sydney for what she thought was going to be four months’ holiday. But while she was there ske was given an audition by Broadcast Advertising Pronrietary (commonly known as B.A.P.), one of the most important firms of tis kind in Australia, and before she knew where she was, she was carving out a new career for herself in. Sydney. Only dramatic experience she had had was in repertory in Wellington with the Thespians (she was last seen in "Family Affairs" and "Call It a Day"), and she admits herself that it was just luck that gave her a break in radio. Australian radio is big. There are several firms producing serjails and other features for broadcasting, and they all seem to be pusy. Most serials and radio preentations are the work of either the ABC, the 2GB players, the Macquarie players, A.W/.A., George. Edwards, or B.A.P. Tirst production in which Miss Kelly appeared was "Mutiny of the Bounty," in which she was Luaua, one of ihe Tahitian girls. Tailua, the other Tahitian girl, was played by film actress Gwen Munro, who siarted work for B.A.P. the same day as Miss Kelly.

Next came "Little Women," from the famaus Louisa M. Alcott tale, in which Gwen Munro was Jo and another Wellington girl, "Georgie" Sterling, was Amie. More Serials FTER ‘Little Women," ‘Trilby,’? "Lorna. Doone’’ (Miss Kelly was Annie Ridd); "The Black Tulip’’? (in which she played Rosa, the lead); "The Queen’s Necklace,’’ "Conflict" (from the story by the Australian author, E. V. Timms), "Cavaleade of HMmpire," and, lastly, "Coronets of England, in which she played the French girl, Louise de Querowailie. ~ B.A.P, have in view am even pigger production schedule, and seriais which will probably be started in the near future include "Marie Antoinette," "East Lynne" and "Camille." Working in the B.A.P. studios is exacting, but intensely interesting, says Lola Kelly. A serial may run for 52 or more 15minute iastalments, so players have to be versatile and able enough to dispenae with long rehearsals: A scone will be read once for rehearsal, once with the microphone (for the purpose of (Continued in Column 3.)

(Continued from Column 2.) co-ordinating sound effects) and then comes the final reading. There’s no room for mistakes, and, as can be imagined, a player has to be pretty "quick on the uptake" at times, Producer for B.A.P. when Lola Kelly first started was Harvey Adams, well known Shakespearean actor. George Matthew is producer now. Best tribute to the quality of ‘Australian serials ond radio dvametisations is the fact that they are finding a market all cover the world -india, Singapore, New Zealand--even in America. Ii is understood that "Mutiny of the Bounty" has been sold io somebody on Pitcairn Island-the inhabitants of the island have a definie and persona] interest in the historic mutiny, of course-but how the recordings will be utilised remains a mystery. 4am English" Voices yEW ZEALANDERS are popular in Australian radio, says Miss Kelly, priacipally because their speaking voices are more ‘‘Tinglish’’ than the average Australian voice. Among the New Zealanders who are making good over there is John Stevenson, who has written a clever musical show. and has a fine baritone voice and is studying at the Sydney Conservatorium, Another is Warren Toogood, who went across to Sydney more or less "en spec." He took the preceution, however, of fTaukinge some audition recordings before he left Wellington, and these so impressed the B-A.P. exeentives that he wes offered a coniract on the spot, He wili be taking a fairly important part in "Marie Anioinetis." He has also develoned « sepulchral laugh which, in a smail way, is proving a sensation, ° Gwen Munro, who was scen recentiy in Eicw Zealand with comedian Geortice ‘Wallace in "Let George Do it," has a brilliant. career ahead of her, most people think, but in the geed old-fashioned way she admits a career isn’t evorything. She is getiing married very shorily. Lola Kelly herself returns te Sydney and a new contract with B.A.P. early in January. She weuld very much like to preak into New Zealand radio, she says, but until New Zealand radio can. offer her as good a job as she has in Australia, she’s naturally siaying where she iv