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Phantasmagoria
(Mark Gatiss) |
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 Big
Finish Production's second audio story is "Phantasmagoria"
which was recorded on the 26th and 27th June 1999 and
was released on 4th October 1999. Written by Mark Gatiss
and directed by Nicholas Briggs it stars Peter Davison,
as the Fifth Doctor, and Mark Strikson, as Turlough. Also
starring are: Nicholas Briggs, David Walliams, Jonathan
Rigby, Mark Gatiss, Jez Fielder, David Ryall, Steven Wickham
and Julia Dalkin.
This
is a thriller which sees the TARDIS
materialises in 18th century London, where someone is
terrorising the higher echelons of society using apparently
paranormal means. Something devilish is stalking the streets
of London and in the Diabola Club members amuse themselves
with the usual gambling and gossiping. One of the members
is Sir Nikolas Valentine, a solitary player who claims
to be playing a game of his own devising. Some claim that
Valentine is in league with the devil himself.
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Turlough |
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The Doctor learns
of some unusual disappearances and deaths of late and
is curious why, on further investigation, there seems
to be no common link between the missing men. Turlough
finds himself separated from The Doctor and involved with
Jeake and Flowers who turn out to be members of the Diabola
Club and who are curious about Sir Nikolas Valentine.
At a chance meeting The Doctor and Turlough are reunited
and when The Doctor shows Jeake the list of missing men
he identifies them all as members of the Diabola Club.
The Doctor decides to visit the club so as to investigate
further. It is not long before he to becomes curious about
Sir Nikolas Valentine.
The
Doctor becomes even more curious when he finds out that
all the patrons of the Diablo Club who, after losing at
cards to the charming Sir Nikolas Valentine, seem to then
disappear in mysterious circumstances. What is the secret
of the screaming walls which also weep blood? Why are
two aliens in London and what are they looking for? And
what is the connection with the charming highwayman Lovemore?
As The Doctor unravels
the truth it becomes apparent that they are facing an
enemy who could wipe London off the face of the Earth
forever...
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Notes:
- Featuring the Fifth
Doctor and Turlough.
- Serial Number: 6P/A
- Number of Episodes: 4
- Cover Length: 100 minutes
- Episode Lengths: 1 = 19'37", 2 = 21'54", 3 =
21'19", 4 = 26'09"
- This story takes place between "Resurrection
of the Daleks" and "Planet
of Fire".
- Cover Illustration: James Arnott
- Recorded: 26th and 27th June 1999
- Recording Location: NU Groove Studios
- Released: October 1999
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On the
Back Cover:
 The TARDIS takes The Doctor and Turlough to the
London of 1702 where a mysterious highwayman roams the streets, a local
occultist has made contact with the dead, and gentlemen of fashion are
disappearing, only to find themselves in a chamber whose walls weep
blood...
The time-travellers become enmeshed in the hideous plans of
Sir Nikolas Valentine, a gambler at the mysterious Diabola Club who always
seems to have a winning hand... |
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On the
Inside Cover:
The idea for this story came from a League of
Gentlemen sketch in our 1997 Edinburgh show about an 18th century saloneer who
may or may not be playing cards with the Devil...
I'm a great
fan of Restoration comedy and I've always wanted to do something that used that
atmosphere of decadent gentlemen's clubs, coffee houses and foppery.
Pseudo-historicals are my favourite Doctor Whos and I wrote this adventure with
something approaching glee. The setting is pretty underused and I thought it
would be ideal for a spooky mystery that also allowed Peter Davison's Doctor to
have a bit more fun.
We certainly enjoyed the recording and a really committed
cast gobbled up their parts with obvious relish. It's been great to be in at
the start of an exciting new beginning for the show.
Long may it
continue... |
Mark Gatiss,
July
1999 |
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Full Cast
List:
| Part One |
| The Doctor |
Peter Davison |
| Turlough |
Mark Strickson |
| Henry Gaunt |
Nicholas Briggs |
| Quincy Flowers |
David Walliams |
| Edmund Carteret |
Jonathan Rigby |
| Jasper Jeake |
Mark Gatiss |
| Poltrot |
Jez Fielder |
| Sir Nikolas Valentine |
David Ryall |
| Dr. Samuel Holywell |
Steven Wickham |
| Hannah Fry |
Julia Dalkin |
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| Part Two |
| The Doctor |
Peter Davison |
| Turlough |
Mark Strickson |
| Edmund Carteret |
Jonathan Rigby |
| Dr. Samuel Holywell |
Steven Wickham |
| Hannah Fry |
Julia Dalkin |
| Sir Nikolas Valentine |
David Ryall |
| Jasper Jeake |
Mark Gatiss |
| Quincy Flowers |
David Walliams |
| Poltrot |
Jez Fielder |
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| Part Three |
| The Doctor |
Peter Davison |
| Turlough |
Mark Strickson |
| Hannah Fry |
Julia Dalkin |
| Dr. Samuel Holywell |
Steven Wickham |
| Quincy Flowers |
David Walliams |
| Sir Nikolas Valentine |
David Ryall |
| Jasper Jeake |
Mark Gatiss |
| Libarian |
Jez Fielder |
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| Part Four |
| The Doctor |
Peter Davison |
| Turlough |
Mark Strickson |
| Major Billy Lovemore |
Jez Fielder |
| Sir Nikolas Valentine |
David Ryall |
| Dr. Samuel Holywell |
Steven Wickham |
| Quincy Flowers |
David Walliams |
| Hannah Fry |
Julia Dalkin |
| Jasper Jeake |
Mark Gatiss |
The
Production Team:
| Writer |
Mark Gatiss |
| Director |
Nicholas Briggs |
| Sound/Music |
Alistair Lock |
| Theme Music |
Mark Ayres |
| Producers |
Gary Russell and
Jason
Haigh-Ellery |
| Executive Producer for the BBC
|
Stephen Cole |
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