Only a Voice is Heard Teaching the Radio Actor

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17527, 23 July 1931, Page 9

Only a Voice is Heard Teaching the Radio Actor

“THIS is the waiting roam. While I * am rehearsing, you' do not mind sitting hero for a bit,'do you? It is a final microphone run through this morning.” Henry, radio actor, xjus speaking to lijs friend, George Howard, st ago actor. . “Whilo you are gesticulating wildly, at that: funny-looking box you keep in your studio,” said George, “I shall be very harming sitting here and perhaps learning from your weekly journal howto become a radio actor!” “Then you should turn to the listeners’ page : Somebody there is bound to tell you how it is done.. It wil) bo insirudtivo for a mere stage actor! Ap'd remember, to start with, that we: cannot, ‘gesticulate wildly’ because of', having to hold our scripts.” “-How tiresome.” .murmured George, ‘‘.to be only jialf able to express yourself. ■ Of course, on the stage we know that facial expression and by-play are half the battle.” , "And while you have- been talking this wire has just afrivec) for you. Do not say it is about that new talkie they are after you for?” ; , . “That is precisely what it is,” replied Henry. "And what, is move, they want me-at once for another voice test. What am I going to do? There is the rod light ‘flicking’ for the rehearsal, and here! is the telegram!” ‘‘Qh, that is all right,” said George. “Give mo your script. What part is it? And now'go along to JClstree, as quickly as you like, leaving word with the producer here that, ‘for positively one performance only’ your'friend with an abundance of stage 'training will carry on for you.”

' “That is simply splendid of you, George? I_ am sure you wil}. _ enjoy . it, too, you will like the' girl playing ‘Natalie’;’ only, remember, do not'play to ' imr-kfacQ ’ tlie ' microphone all the time!..! will just.fix things,up.” '“Wait/ a moment!” said George. “What about the technique?” “Don’t know,” came a receding voice; just be natural’!”

It was not easy" to see the microphone because so ’ many people were ' standing rbunjl it'. [lt was not. easy'to see t|iat producer either because he , was not in tho studio’ at ! all; but his voice came to them through a loudspeaker.' ‘ '. “Now” thought i Gporgo, “I shall iniagioe that tho producer’s ear or the listener’s ear is irwieje that blue, sjyjyas. Jpgnu?. «»>£ rounjlijig tlie microphone. I shall talk” (hereji pne_br two of them drifted away having spoken their lines, and George approached)-m“right info that «?r, and lot it never be said that I'madeijt tinglp through shouting into it. When I f get to that oxcjted bjt in Act I shall; turn' my head away. That seems an obvious way of preserving hjs • eardrum'-”

’’Tlie players talked almost too casually sometimes! ' George thought. For instance, tho enejs of souqs of their words would never hit the back of tho pit or Iho cjrc]e.. This was where his superior training came in. Ho • would Show them. And ho spoko his'first long spec!;. , • : > “That sperrh was just right for feeling” called the produced, “but don’t trmiW "about the* "filial cohsonahfsr Ydur. *tV and; ‘d’s’ are coming-over like pistbl shhts. ' Remember, "we' dpfl’t wanf. elocution' here~~We an?"too close Lvycfii for tha.l,* * Th.e t sanio v gpp]jos,'tp breathing- Don’t breathe UAt Jeast not •tho way •you I '"' do—-it' ' sound;? dike a grampus at this end. ‘Forgive jiVe, Mr. Mortimer's' friom}; T know ’you gre oply reading ; this part tto oblige ;us,-Vhut-if’ yog- Were, ' really ' doing" it, your would need ;to cultiyat'e- a kind ,of rhythmical dexterity, knowing • almost, 'whero ' each breath , was coming in ■ some : passages, ■ -Sharp'outlines if you can • help • it: you have,to learn to get the R'ame-effect ■— smoothly.”- ; ‘ ' ", Tjip rehearsal' finished mnd, the -rod light, went out, iii" the-studio, George had" come through thediflkrult bit in •Act 2 with flying ; colors- At the emotional" : line, 1 "’She’s ■ gone-—I: shall nJoVqr—see her again !” ho’ had'fumed aside and spoken " with"all his heart. Each paugo qifivcred with; criidUoil V“ ho Wiia an'actor, ' - ■. .“That is (just w])at we want,” said the producer as ho drew Gcotgo asido, "actors, "inib'heart "of! Hie ‘actor’ is the same whether ,he is cm the stage, i'n ’thfc’ films, or kt the; microphone'- '■ • By, the way you were, acting, "you! opul'd > havo held those pauses forimirtute? at iv tifrid, becauso one could feel the .intensity ..being sustained. ' '■ , ,v •, - ' ■ "lyiiat is , radio . technique?’’ ,’ajlcJSd Geoygc. ' • •' ' 1 ' ", | j

He noticed fbo same lopk .on 'the prpdtrieVV faed As Ho' had once seep when ho j m askedgojfingf p.rofpsiidpal how opo bocanie'a'goller. . ‘ '• '■ “When'you ,haye'reached the point, of discovery,/replied the producer,,'“that 'offe'ets Vhayo ’ ftd'. fbe gffined / mentally rather'"’jhap.physically, you’ ore on the right road' fbr suCceps'. With the aid Of great vitality*you' cab 1 ‘phf ovey’ a'loud oiy of a'geny'with/ siic,h , ipbPTrful restraint j]«'d‘ yet 's?uo)i direction of power that., the,/reaction, on tho listener will' bo terrific, ( It, is.' bebapso " ]ic receive?' a stimulus', corresponding to the .fogco . of imgg'ipatipn Tiv tbh Actor- The. actor’s j job ~ip .‘ this cdSq, J ", ybu sop, /is pretty | streppOps. Ho nkikos in bis' mind dlf 1 the actions 4 afid' gestures conceivable, and Vet . his body. ’and' his' , h»iids do; not moy<?..; JIo cap." be in •nl’mpbt tho norma) 'position mjcijonliojiA; ho, does not have tp’ turn.right Away; pud shout like yqu‘-,dub-;i,ust;npw, ■ v the/euy losirig quality and‘effect.’’-,.. ; */" ' ' f “Yoji,,” “CQntintten ’.the- producer, The porsihinjity of'tho“aclbr on' t'ho other is elorjdftdlyf.mentiil;,he- beconies v for the. tinid boing /all egYs,’ .‘Hearing’' the -i'eful’t, pt'/hjs .Avorfc- ,ix\ fhe mind of,the ' .cap!, I.; il.o; Iff learn?” asked George wisffjifly. £fe rbap ‘the.apsjvpr jji th 6 oth'ef S' p l , iilst how, the golfing,, professional„ Ipd looked.! i “tdaf.n'of dhOtmicjophone,’'. said- the bpoducep.,“Orlando'\vhrf 'an awkward ooy, ’, t upyer.s f c<|l‘/ih , Aljo, . of Jpvp, '©omhiVwodime,wbo ,iria!’. cried Rosa- , * * ’The, micropbnc on]y will teach