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THE BATTERED SUITCASE
THEATRE COMPANY |
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Presented: |
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Doctor Who: Vox
Dei |
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Wednesday 18th to
Saturday 21st April 2001, 7.45pm |
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Saturday Matinee 3pm
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at the |
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NEW THEATRE ROYAL
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Guildhall Walk,
Portsmouth |
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Stalls £4.50
£5.50 |
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Circle £6.50
£7.50 |
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 A
near-deserted space station orbiting a black hole, a desperate rag-tag huddle
of survivors, an unstoppable alien killing machine, a murderous troop of
extra-terrestrial marauders and the most powerful explosive ever created
ticking relentlessly down to zero…
The Doctor is back!
The Battered
Suitcase Theatre Company's first Doctor Who production, "Doctor Who: Hellblossom", had originally been
conceived as a one-off event and went down, with those lucky enough to see it,
very well. As stated by Director Ian Wheeler 'it hardly seems modest to say so,
but it pulled in the crowds and the money, and both audience and cast went away
at the end of the day feeling satisfied and that a good time had been had by
all.'
"Doctor Who:
Hellblossom" had been set as a pseudo-historically and for The Battered
Suitcase Theatre Company Doctor's second outing they wanted to go out into
space and into the far future.
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| Chimera |
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Mark
Wright who had played The Doctor in the first production had been offered to
return to the role but he chose to decline and instead another actor was given
the chance to play this famous role - the sublime David Huntington. As
commented by Writer and Director Ian Wheeler 'If any actor was ever destined to
play The Doctor, it would be David - self-assured and charismatic, able to
command attention simply by his presence. Mark's Doctor was an almagam of the
third and fourth - David's is entirely his own.'
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| Penny11 and Karnak |
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"Doctor
Who: Vox Dei" is set in an indeterminate time after Hellblossom. Since the last
time we saw him The Doctor has not only regenerated (into the tenth incarnation
according to The Battered Suitcase Theatre Company) he has also picked up a new
assistant - the android Penny11 from Happy World. She is in addition to Karnak,
a dispossessed Prince with an unlucky track record in love, who was introduced
in the first play. There is already plans for a third Battered Suitcase Doctor
Who story, titled " Warsmith", in November 2002.
Further
information about this exciting stage production can be found at: |
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| www.batteredsuitcase.mcmail.com |
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Full Cast
List:
| The Doctor |
David Huntington |
| Karnak |
Gavyn Sheffield |
| Penny11 |
Kate Watson |
| Captain "Rock" Steele |
Alex Monkcom |
| Doctor Hilde Medzavorian |
Sally Evans |
| Doctor Enrico Costigan |
Ben Taylor |
| The High Judiciary |
Russell Hughes |
| Deathbane |
Mike O'Doherty |
| Sargeant Dietrich |
Ruvena Wilhelmy |
| Corporal Langtry |
Stuart Brett |
| Private Allen |
Jason Fazackerly |
| Karion |
Stuart Brett |
| The Chimera |
Russell Hughes |
| Computer Voice |
David Lippiett |
The
Production Team:
| Writer |
Ian Wheeler |
| Director |
Ian Wheeler |
| Assistant Director |
Sally Evans |
| Lynda Wheeler |
Costumes |
| Graphics & Production
Design |
Ian Wheeler |
| Lighting Designer &
Operator |
Lee Dean |
| Sound Mixing & Operation
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Ian Wheeler |
| Stage Manager & Set |
David Comlay |
| Stage Crew & Props |
Jessica Coomber |
| Publicity |
Roger Myall |
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| The Doctor |
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| Karnak |
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| Penny11 |
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| Captain "Rock" Steele |
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| Doctor Hilde Medzavorian |
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| Doctor Enrico Costigan |
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| Deathbane |
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| Chimera |
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| The High Judiciary |
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| Photos Copyright: The Battered Suitcase Theatre Company |
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My
Review:
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As I
write this it is late Thursday evening and I have just returned from watching
the second performance of a very enjoyable production of "Doctor Who Vox Dei"
with a couple of my friends.
It was clear to me that a lot of thought had been
put into the script and just as much effort from the whole cast and crew to
create a fantastic show which made a very enjoyable night out for us. A lot of
dedicated planning must have gone into it including some well constructed sets
(especially the TARDIS console), costumes and the characters themselves. To
quote one of my friends regarding the console when we first took our seats
"Wow"!
The only disappointment I felt was the low turnout but I was
glad that this did not seem to discourage any of the cast at all. However, I
gather from Ian Wheeler, the Director, that this is a normal pattern. A low
opening and midweek with it getting bigger at the weekend with an expected sell
out for the two Saturday performances.
Bearing in
mind that I had not been able to see their first stage show "Hellblossom" I had
nothing to base this show on except for the 1989 stage show "The Ultimate
Adventure". But to compare these performances would be extremely unfair
considering the huge differences.
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Karnak at the
TARDIS
Console |
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I have to say I instantly liked both David
Huntington's portrayal of The Doctor and also to Kate Watson as Penny11. Their
characters I have to say at first over shadowed that of fellow TARDIS
crewmember Karnak played by Gavyn Sheffield. I have to say I even found Penny11
a far more interesting character then that of even The Doctor!
I hope I don't get struck down for this blasphemy.
However, my first impressions were proved not to last as
Gavyn Sheffield managed to inject more into his character as the show
progressed. The three of them managed to create a truly believable Doctor Who
team worthy of the television show itself. Karnak's mocking banter and comments
regarding The Doctor (and poor Penny11) made me realise that despite the high
esteem The Doctor has that both of his companions managed to shine just as
much.
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Captain "Rock" Steele
in
Action |
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Worthy of note is Karnak's confrontation and
taunting of Deathbane and his solo scene in the TARDIS trying to find out his
history (or should that read "future"!) especially when he read out The Doctor's note. Truly enjoyable moments.
David
Huntington's portrayal of The Doctor was extremely well executed. David managed
to not only inject some of his own ideas into the character but he also
incorporated elements of some of the television Doctors. The most shocking part
of the play was that of Penny11's unexpected final scene which, even despite
The Doctor's warning, made real edge of the seat viewing. This moving part of
the show even eclipsed that of Karnak's scenes where he mocks The Doctor,
Captain "Rock" Steele and Deathbane.
The whole cast
and crew should all be proud of what they have accomplished - I will certainly
be there to watch them again for "Warsmith" in November 2002.
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DISCLAIMER:
The
above article, and it's related photographs, has been put together with the
kind permission of Writer/Director Ian Wheeler from The Battered Suitcase
Theatre Company.
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