Transcript of Radio drama analysis
- 1. Radio Drama Analysis Suspense: Sorry Wrong Number
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uPQE3Pykto This radio drama starts
with a narrator setting the scene for the audience by explaining a
basic outline of a Suspense radio drama. This opening is how all
the Suspense radio dramas begin giving a sense of unease on the
audience and intriguing them into the story. In this radio drama,
the narrator only opens and closes the story. He is not present
during the narrative. As a narrative this radio drama does exactly
what its supposed to do. It is scary, intriguing and slightly
funny. However, I found it to be very predictable. In a way the,
predictability works in a way that lets audience unravel the story
themselves giving them a sense of achievement. The narrative starts
with an elderly woman on dialling the phone. The audience know this
by the sound effects used. The way she winds the telephone up
allows the audience to recognise her actions, as well as putting
the story into some context. By winding the telephone indicates it
is a old style telephone. This sound effect is used every time she
makes a call, which consequently in the particular radio drama, is
a lot. The way she begins to speak to the operator allows the
audience to understand exactly what her situation is, as well as
other characters are in the narrative. This is a simple technique
used to introduce a story that worked well in this modest radio
drama. As well as the storyline, the audience are also voiced the
location, the womans wellbeing and allows them to get a
understanding of her regular tone of voice (which becomes much more
nervous and explosive towards the end). The drama set out in a
chronological order from start to end. It doesnt contain any
flashbacks or lapses in time. This adds to the simplicity for the
audience and makes it much easier to follow and understand. The
most operative sound effect used in this drama in the use of
silence. Lots of thriller or horror genres will use this effect not
only in radio dramas but other contexts of media including film of
television drama. Whilst listening to the intruder come up the
stairs there is a sudden stop to the sound. It picks up 4 seconds
later with the man viciously entering her room. The small gap of
silence literally puts the audience in suspense, making reference
to the name of the drama. Overall I believe this radio drama was a
success and very intriguing to listen to. Its the perfect amount of
time without the audience getting bored, contains the right amount
twists in the plot, and is easy for the audience to follow and
understand.