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- Range: Sapphire and Steel
- Title: The Lighthouse
- Publisher: Big Finish
- Author: Nigel Fairs
- Director: John Ainsworth
- Cast: David Warner, Susannah Harker
- Length: 2 Parts (70 Minutes)
- Date: 2005
After really enjoying "All Fall Down", I was rather surprised to find that I didn't enjoy "The Lighthouse". It didn't feel at all like a good Sapphire and Steel story (unlike "All Fall Down" which was very reminiscent of the series). The main problem was the actual story was extremely violent and even gross. Yes, I realise this is an audio play, so you don't actually see anything, but still this story of multiple murders is a bit too much. Sapphire and Steel was scary but rarely horror of the cut-'em-up/slash-'em variety. The ending of this one was also quite depressing, but the actual series did do that on occasion. Also, I found the play to be a bit confusing -- which may have been down to it being only two parts instead of four. The setting was very atmospheric, but the execution of the actual story just didn't work for me.
This play opens as total crack-fic. Honestly, I wondered what drugs the author and director were on (and where I could get some ha-ha-ha!). The play starts as a murder mystery, a Tommy and Tuppence murder mystery with Sapphire as "Sixpence" and Steel as "Shuffle" -- the famous amateur detectives. Its set in Cairo in 1926, where a group of English people have shown up, hopefully to start an archaeological expedition. The expedition never goes anywhere, due to a series of murders, and Sapphire sings (badly) in the hotel lounge.
However, just as the murder mystery seems to be turning into a particularly bad murder mystery, Big Finish pulls the rug out from under you and the plot turns deadly serious. Steel reveals a surprising murderer, but more importantly, Sapphire and Steel discover they are in a particularly nasty trap. Those of you who have seen the televised episode "The Trap" (aka "The Service Station") will recognise the danger our characters are in, and it's somewhat depressing.
Overall, this is a really, really excellent story. I enjoyed it a lot -- though the two halves are as different as fire and ice. Colin Baker is excellent (I can't quite reveal who he plays, but it's not the Doctor). And of course, Warner and Harker are the perfect Steel and Sapphire. Highly, highly recommended.
Review of "Second Sight" to come.
- Range: Sapphire and Steel
- Title: The Mystery of the Missing Hour
- Publisher: Big Finish
- Author: Joseph Lidster
- Director: Nigel Fairs
- Cast: David Warner, Susannah Harker, Colin Baker
- Length: 4 Parts (138 Minutes)
- Date: 2007
This play opens as total crack-fic. Honestly, I wondered what drugs the author and director were on (and where I could get some ha-ha-ha!). The play starts as a murder mystery, a Tommy and Tuppence murder mystery with Sapphire as "Sixpence" and Steel as "Shuffle" -- the famous amateur detectives. Its set in Cairo in 1926, where a group of English people have shown up, hopefully to start an archaeological expedition. The expedition never goes anywhere, due to a series of murders, and Sapphire sings (badly) in the hotel lounge.
However, just as the murder mystery seems to be turning into a particularly bad murder mystery, Big Finish pulls the rug out from under you and the plot turns deadly serious. Steel reveals a surprising murderer, but more importantly, Sapphire and Steel discover they are in a particularly nasty trap. Those of you who have seen the televised episode "The Trap" (aka "The Service Station") will recognise the danger our characters are in, and it's somewhat depressing.
Overall, this is a really, really excellent story. I enjoyed it a lot -- though the two halves are as different as fire and ice. Colin Baker is excellent (I can't quite reveal who he plays, but it's not the Doctor). And of course, Warner and Harker are the perfect Steel and Sapphire. Highly, highly recommended.
Review of "Second Sight" to come.
