|
The
Doctor takes Charley to Venice, but by the time they arrive,
the city is decidedly past its prime. Venice is finally sinking
beneath the water, purportedly as the result of a curse placed
upon an ageless duke by his scorned wife 100 years ago...
Rather
like The Androids of Tara, this story mingles the futuristic
with the archaic to create an intriguing and extremely unusual
scenario. Although set in the 23rd century, this is a tale
of curses, cults, dungeons and masked balls, the latter of
which is brought to life with the aid of some beautiful Renaissance-style
music by Russell Stone. The science fiction elements include
a mutated underclass of amphibious gondoliers, but these people
are usually described by the ruling classes in terms of mythological
monsters - sentient toads, hobgoblins and trolls.
Eccentric
though it is, Paul Magrs' script avoids the comedic extremes
of some of his Doctor Who novels. However, the creator
of the renegade Gallifreyan Iris Wildthyme still has a place
in his story for a wilful elderly lady, in this case one Ms
Eleanor Lavish (Elaine Ives Cameron). Meanwhile, Miss Havisham,
who made a brief appearance in Magrs' novel Verdigris,
also has a role to play here (kind of), amalgamated with another
character from Dickens' Great Expectations. Estella,
the departed wife of Duke Orsino, is rumoured to have ended
her life by throwing herself into a canal wearing her wedding
dress.
Portraying
the lovelorn Duke is Michael Sheard, a veteran of many guest
appearances in Who on television, but perhaps best
known for his long-running role as the forbidding Mr Bronson
in Grange Hill. Equally capable of playing good guys
(such as Laurence Scarman in Pyramids of Mars) as well
as baddies, Sheard is perfectly cast as the Duke, who is by
turns both pitiful and callous, being entirely prepared to
allow his own citizens to drown along with his city. Other
colourful characters include a craven curator, Churchwell
(Nick Scovell) and Vincenzo (Mark Gatiss), the zealous high
priest of the Cult of Estella. Paul McGann and India Fisher
as the Doctor and Charley also enjoy an excellent rapport,
belying the fact that this was actually the first story they
recorded together for Big Finish.
I
hate to admit it, but once again I managed to guess the final
episode's "surprise" revelation long before it was disclosed.
Perhaps I have watched, read and heard too much Who
over the years to be genuinely surprised very often. However,
I will never tire of listening to this particular series.
Richard
McGinlay
|
