BROADCASTING SERVICE FORECASTS Ti

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 32

BROADCASTING SERVICE FORECASTS Ti

Under the terms of his contract with the N.B.S. Alexander Kipnis is to make two public appearances at concerts in Christchurch during the coming week. These are set down for July 11 and 13, at the Civic Theatre. The assisting artist and accompanist is Noel Newson. 3YA will broadcast the concerts. Danny Malone will make studio appearances on July 12 at IYA and on July 15 at 2YA. j Recorded Productions. | Although the Drama Department is] kept continually busy by the large number of plays submitted for consideration, it is rarely that first-rate cdme-, dies are found in the mail-bag. Ever] since the interest of listeners in radio drama has quickened, there has been some comment that too few of the plays are comedies. Fortunately the N.B.S. has recenty purchased a number of comedies that should cause many a hearty laugh. Two of these are of outstanding merit. Both are by known dramatists and one is a recent London stage suggess. "Mrs. Grundy Comes to Tea" is the title of the first. It is by L. dv Garde Peach, a dramatist who has been writing for radio since the early days of broadcasting and has to his credit some of the best plays yet produced. Listeners will remember "him as the author of that absorbing mystery of the sea, "The Mary Celeste," and the radio-drama, "Ingredient X," a play that did much to show the way to other dramatists who were struggling to discover the new technique required for radio plays. L. dv Garde Peach believes that a radio play, more than any other type, must have an idea behind it as well as tell a story. Listeners will remember that "Ingredient X" was a satire on "big business." What' the idea in "Mrs. Grundy Comes to Tea" is, listeners will be able to discover for themselves. The author paints the proverbial Mrs. Grundy from a very original point of view and listeners will find themselves beginning to wonder whether they are laughing at Mrs. Grundy, or the people who try to out-Grundy Mrs. Grundy, or themselves. "Storm in a Tea Cup," which is the second comedy, is one of the latest London stage successes. The stage play had a very long and successful run in London and a film version (considerably altered) was recently shown in New Zealand. It is a comedy of Scottish life, which shows how very little things, such as the non-payment of a dog-licence fee, may have domestic and political reverberations. The "radio adaptation has been particularly well done and none of the comedy of the full-flavoured Irish and Scottish characters has been lost. The author is the Scottish dramatist James Bridie, whose other successful plays include "The Anatomist" and "The Black Eye." "Victoriana" Continues. The large number of listeners who enjoyed the earlier episodes of "Victoriana," the N.B.S.'s dramatic mosaic commemorating the life and reign of Queen Victoria, will be pleased to learn that the fourth . episode will shortly be on the air. This episode, entitled "The Fight for Peace," covers the years 1848-1851, and is of particular interest to New Zealand, for it includes the departure of the four ships that brought the first settlers to Canterbury. The episode also gives vivid pictures of the industrial distresses of those years, of Prince Albert's pursuit of a dream of international peace taking concrete shape i n the building of-the Great Exhibition of 1851,, and a fine picture of that great actor, Macready, making his final appearance on the English stage. It is an episode packed with incidents that fully1 sho-\v the tenor of the times. Listeners will'find as much, if not more,;to interest and entertain them as in the earlier episodes. From 3YA, Christchurch, tonight, the Civic Players will present at 8 o'clock "One Goes Alone," a tense and moving drama of the Air Force during the Great War. Following this, at 8.36 p.m., the same company will present "Murder ia the Silo," a psycholo-

gical drama with a distinct Australian flavour written by Edmund Barclay. New Zealand Contralto. Two years ago Grace Wilkinson, native of New Zealand, and the possessor of a beautiful contralto voice, commenced a tour of the national stations which firmly established her fine singing in the hearts of her listeners. Now comes the news that she is to make another appearance under engagement to the National Broadcasting Service. It was through the interest and encouragement of Dame Clara Butt, after, she, had heard Miss Wilkinson sing in Ghristchurch some ten years ago, that the young contralto was able to go to England and Europe for'study. Sir Henry Wood and Sir Dan Godfrey were two of the outstanding musicians with whom she was associated in England, and in Berlin she studied with Conrad yon Box, through whom she was able to appear in the German capital. .In Paris she received tuition with Madame Croiza. Recitals, oratorios, and symphony concerts in England gave her many opportunities, and several broadcasts were given. She will broadcast from the national stations, first at 2YA on August 30. Australian Composer. Works by Miriam Hyde have not yet attained the eminence of more familiar writers, but her compositions are rapidly finding a place- in radio and concert programmes in Australia and elsewhere. Born in Adelaide, Miss Hyde received her early musical training at the Elder Conservatorium in that city, graduating as a Bachelor of Music in 1931. 'In the following year she went to London to complete her studies' at the Royal College of Music, where she won several prizes for composition. She has broadcast frequently from the 8.8.C. and for the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and was solo pianist when her "Concerto in E Flat Minor for Pianoforte and Orchestra" was recently performed by the New South Wales Conservatorium Orchestra. Among many other works, Miss Hyde has written an "Adelaide" Overture, which was conducted by Dr. Malcolm Sargent at the South Australian State Centenary Concert in 1936. The National Broadcasting Service has ' arranged to present several of her more important writings. Her "Viola and Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 45" will be broadcast from 2YA at 8 p.m. next Monday. The performers will be Mrs. Eric Meier (viola) and Miss Ormi Reid (piano).