Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04

background. dramatic pantomime ADD facial
expression via the icrophone-without waiting
for teIeviSion.
ssNIATURALLY," Miss Backus explains, ~tha
audience sees all of these things IA q
stage or screen play, and each has its vital part
in helping the actor TO put over the pIaywright'a
idea. Suppose a certain letter is important IN
the development OF plot. In the theater one
observes the characters writing. receiving read-
ing. concealing destroying the papers,
Their various emotions are usually apparent
To have an announcer tell the radio audience
what happens to the letter would be tedious
and unnatural So We must establish each Inn
pression-scenic or pantomimic-by what tbs
actors say. This applies to every tiny detail
that is denied to the audience Of the air be-
cause Of radios present lack OF teIevlsion.
Practically, what we must do in adapting an
old play or in writing q new one is to prepare
script that would convey the complete pic
torial impression to blind person"
But. as Miss Backus points out, everything
must be presented <briefiy-almost instantly
as well as graphically in order to maintain sus-
pense. To accomplish this, she writes double
set of lines for each character in the plays she
stages. One comprises the dialogue the actor
would speak in the theater. The other, de-
liVered In altered tone, is carry-all covering
everything that the character sees, thinks and
feels during the course OF the action. In work.
ing out her method Miss Backus has taken
something of the old-time aside" something
Of the effectiveness Of the mechanics Of
Strange Interlude," and has combined them
with softly played incidental music to mdi-
cate atmosphere and mood
But even this effective substitute for the eyes
of an audience does not overcome that I'M
canny sixth sense of artificiality which even
pseudo-blind persons possess So in the inter-
ests of realism Miss Backus insists that kisses
in her radio play by real. Her theory IS that If
the radio audience can be made to exclaina
Now he IS kissing, herI' the height Of broad
casting naturalness has been obtained That is
why members of her casts are not permitted
merely to kiss the backs of their handS-as has
been studio practice-but must plant their ro-
mantle caresses directly and theoretically upon
the leading lady'S lips.
While not usually any great hardship, this
sometimes leads to complications Showing
party of women through one of the studios re-
Gently, the guide explained this kiss theory and
mentioned a well known radio actor ssYou
ought to have seen him at rehearsal this morn
tngl" the guide whispered enviously. 81 wish
I. had" said one of the guests "He happens
70 be my husband"
But kissing is only a part of the task innp
posed on the radio actor. Another of Mis-.
Backus innovations is that each performer
shall memorize his lines, just as he would for
the stage, instead of reading from script
This means hours of extra study in preparation
for one-night radio stand but it has been
found that it insures far greater naturaInesa
Of expression. All Of these steps and stilI Others
under discussion are being taken in an effort
TO avoid the chaos which came to the screen
when 1t was faced with the necessity of syn
chronizing action with the new element of
sound. When television shall require this of
radio. the situation will be exactly the re-
verse. Radio directors, however are takina a
tip from the grief encountered by their cinema
brothers and hope to ind q smoother path in
perfecting the combination OF sound and tele-
vision.
FOR the inevitable. IL distant, transition to
= the new medium win bring about enough
troubles distinctly its own. Over some that are
forecast the handsomest actors and the loveIiest
actresses are already deeply distressed Experts
indicate that In order to televise acceptably an
actress must have large eyes and a wide face.
Clearly chiseled features, but not too dainty,
are essential. Makeup must be confined to
mascara for the eyes and grease paint that viii
reflect and not absorb the light, with q total