Phantasmagoria (audio drama)
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Phantasmagoria | |
---|---|
Jason Haigh-Ellery | |
Executive producer(s) | Stephen Cole |
Production code | 6PA |
Length | 1 hr 29 mins |
Release date | 4 October 1999 |
Preceded by | The Sirens of Time |
Followed by | Whispers of Terror |
Phantasmagoria is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The story was written by Mark Gatiss and stars Peter Davison and Mark Strickson. It was recorded between 26–27 June 1999.
Phantasmagoria was considered a more "assured and confident" production than director, Nicholas Briggs', previous works.[1] Gatiss' acting, who plays Jasper Jeake, was considered especially good in the audio play.[2]
Synopsis
The Fifth Doctor and Turlough investigate mysterious goings-on at the Diabola Club in London, 1702, where patrons are disappearing after losing at cards to the mysterious Sir Nikolas Valentine.
Cast
- The Doctor — Peter Davison
- Turlough — Mark Strickson
- Henry Gaunt — Nicholas Briggs
- Quincy Flowers — David Walliams
- Edmund Carteret — Jonathan Rigby
- Jasper Jeake — Mark Gatiss
- Poltrot/Librarian/Major Billy Lovemore — Jez Fielder
- Sir Nicholas Valentine — David Ryall
- Dr Samuel Holywell — Steven Wickham
- Hannah Fry — Julia Dalkin
Plot
In the opening scene, Jasper Jeake, Quincy Flowers, Edmund Carteret and a fourth person are playing whist and discussing the coming succession of Queen Anne, at the Diabola Club (apparently a similar institution to the Hellfire Club). They argue and Carteret storms off, claiming a desire for adventure and excitement. Carteret is then approached by the sinister Sir Nicholas Valentine (introduced as a scholar, landowner and astrologer), and they agree to play cards. Carteret is later heard leaving alone furtively and acting "very queer". The following morning Valentine is heard to remark that he had good luck at cards the previous evening and inviting a down-at-heel school teacher to play with him the following evening.
Meanwhile, in the Tardis, the Doctor tries to teach Turlough the rules of
In an aside, to the background of screams of torment, Valentine is heard to comment that only a little time remains until his work is complete. Following the altercation between Turlough and Cotton, Turlough has gone missing and the Doctor attempts to locate him. He notes that the dead man has numerous coins and promissory notes in his pockets and Holywell informs him that there have been a number of disappearances like Turlough's recently. Holywell claims that he has been able to contact the spirits of these missing persons through his experiments. Turlough, it becomes apparent, has fallen and injured his head but has been rescued by Flowers and Jeake. Holywell tells the doctor that twenty-four people have gone missing within a mile of the Diabola Club. Meanwhile, Lovemore murders Cotton, citing vengeance as the reason. In the Diabola Club, Poltrot is playing cards with Valentine and notes that Valentine never removes his gloves. This is dismissed by Valentine as a gambler's superstition. Flowers confronts Valentine about Carteret's disappearance. Valentine claims that Carteret left after a few hands, and invites Flowers to play with him and Poltrot. Later Jeake and Turlough see Flowers leaving the club, looking pale and avoiding them.
Holywell, the Doctor and Hannah hold a
The Doctor discovers that the playing card he was given by Valentine is a tracking device, calling the 'spirits' to him, and realises that he must destroy it; this causes the 'spirits' to depart. Valentine is heard to comment that if he could have the Doctor's mind it would complete his work. The Doctor realises that Valentine is stealing his victims' consciousnesses; each card is tailored to its victim's touch, which is why Valentine wears gloves when playing cards. These trapped consciousnesses are the spirits or ghosts which are summoned to the card once it has been activated. The Doctor discovers a way to reprogram the card he took from the dead man to claim a new victim when he or she touches it, and conceals it in his Almanack. Hannah returns and reveals herself to be the same person as Lovemore and an alien, but justifies her criminal life as a response to the
Notes
- In the Whovian timeline, this story takes place between Loups-Garoux.
References
- ^ Ford, Joe (22 January 2010). "Phantasmagoria by Mark Gatiss and directed by Nicholas Briggs". Doc Oho Reviews. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
- ^ "Pantasmagoria". He Who Blogs. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 29 April 2015.