DRAMATIC WORKS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 92, 20 April 1939, Page 26

DRAMATIC WORKS

THRILLERS AND HISTORY

From IYA Auckland on Monday next at 8 p.m. will be heard "The Mystery of the Silver Cat," a further episode in the "Exploits of the Black Moth." This will be followed at 8.32 p.m. by "Joseph of the Pure Heart" or "He Need Not Have Done It," which is another drama in the popular series "The Old-time The-Ayter."

On Sunday night next 2YA Wellington is to broadcast # in commemoration of St. George's Day a dramatic feature entitled "This England," which has been specially written by the Australian dramatist, Edmund Barclay. Very little is known about St. George, who is the patron saint of chivalry and the tutelary saint of England, but the story of his famous struggle with the dragon is to be found in the early office books of the Church. To slay a dragon was a common exploit for the heroes of Christendom of olden times, and many churches were dedicated to St. George. The adoption of St. George as the soldier-saint who led his votaries to battle appears to date back to the Crusaders and many later chivalrous orders assumed him as their patron saint. Whoever St. George was, his day, which falls on ..Sunday next, has some remarkable associations in English history. St. George's Day happens to be the birthday of William Shakespeare, and he also died on that day in the year 1616. On Friday, April 23, 1915, the landing on Gallipoli by the Anzacs was begun when the transports laden with men left Lemnos, and on the same day at Scyros in a hospital tent there died the young English soldier-poet Rupert Brooke. On the same day in the next year, the bottling up of the Zeebrugge Canal was undertaken by the British Navy. Listeners who tune in to "This England" from 2YA Wellington on Sunday next at 9.5 p.m. will hear something of the significance of St. George's Day and the part it has played in English history. The feature has been produced by the N.B.S.

On Anzac Day, which falls on Tuesday next, 2YA Wellington will broadcast at 8.30 p.m. a radio drama entitled "Diggers' Meeting," written by Grace E. Cumming. This is an Anzac Day drama in which is told a not uncommon war story with a strange modern sequel. The characterisation is strong and there is a fine touch of sentiment worthy of the theme. The presentation is a National Broadcasting Service production.

The final episode entitled "The Philosopher's Stone" in the serial romance of the Middle Ages "Into the Light," produced by the National Broadcasting Service, will be heard from 2YA Wellington on Wednesday next at 9.5 p.m. This will be followed at 9.29 p.m. by chapter two of the thrilling feature "Singapore Spy," which is presented by James Raglan and company.

From 3YA Christchurch at 8 o'clock tonight will be heard episode three of the dramatisation of Wilkie Collins's thriller "The Woman in White." At 8.16 p.m. from the same station will be heard another drama in the series "Night Nurse" which is presented by James Raglan and company. At 8.32 p.m. listeners will hear another dramatic feature that is proving very popular. This is entitled "Thrills," in which are told true stories and incidents from real life.

On Monday night uext listeners to 2YA Wellington will hear another excellent 8.8.C. recorded production entitled "West From Bristol." This is a feature programme devised and produced by Francis Dillon in which is told something of the life and atmosphere of the English counties "West From Bristol." Listeners will find this an outstanding production.