Starring Janet Fielding & Tim Beckmann
Written by Steve Lyons
Directed by John Ainsworth
The Doctor answers a psionic distress call sent from England in the 1920's. There, in the environs of a fairground, he is reunited with an old friend: Harry Houdini. To Adric and Nyssa the name means very little, but to the Doctor's companion Tegan he is a legend. Escape artist extraordinaire, Houdini's reputation will last for decades.
But how does Houdini know so much about Tegan herself? Is it really just guesswork, as he says? Is Houdini right to be concerned about the fairground's fortune teller, who claims to have supernatural skills? Both he and the Doctor suspect an alien influence may be at work.
What neither the Doctor nor his friends realise is that, somewhere in the shadows, a sinister and all too familiar presence is lying in wait for them...
The fifth story in the Destiny Of The Doctor series sees Peter Davison's Doctor finally take the stand in a wonderful story written by Steve Lyons that really fits into the era in which it's set. Originally Lyons was going to write the second Doctor story, however because of House Of Cards, he was brought in to write for Doctor five instead. And while there certainly are flaws with this story (like everything), it's a very strong adventure with plenty of twists and turns and strong character moments. More than that, it finally shows us one of the allusive meetings between The Doctor and the famous Harry Houdini, and in that sense, it must be considered a classic.
Steve Lyons has a very strong grip on the style of season 19 and the characters of that season, not just The Doctor and his companions, but also the villain of the piece. The story itself it a smoke screen in one way, as it changes direction suddenly in it's second half. Upon first listen, this can be rather disorienting, but when this story is relistened to, it makes perfect sense. All the clues are dropped right from the off and the game that Houdini and The Doctor play is wonderfully constructed, in an almost eleventh Doctor fashion. The script is certainly interesting, but it's just dressing for the character analysis between The Doctor and Houdini. Even The Master is used simply as a way to break The Doctor and Houdini apart and to show how little The Doctor confides in Houdini, despite them being old friends. It's an interesting character examination, but this does leave the plot rather thin on the ground. Therefore, when it moves away from them, it feels like it's just going in circles. That's one important point that needs to be remembered about this story; that this is such a good character study that it's plot just suffers by comparison.
Houdini is well characterised by Lyons, with good, solid references back to previous meetings of the pair. It certainly fits in with the era of the show that this comes from, where continuity referance were almost a necessity and anything without was seen as a misstep. His characterisation of Houdini is that of a tourtured soul, and it certainly makes for an interesting audio to have him in this manner. His characterisation of The fifth Doctor is also spot on, something this series needs to get right. He runs about, trying to have the weight and authority of his previous selves, but never quite succeeding. And it's so clearly Peter Davison in the mind's eye. The rest of the TARDIS team are well sketched, but with three of them to accommodate, they never really get that much of a chance to shine. Tegan certainly gets a few moments, and Adric gets a couple of occasions to show off his mathematical prowess. However Nyssa ends up hypnotised again and for a good third of the story isn't really herself. But I suppose it's reflective of the problem that faced the production team of the 1980's - how to juggle three companions, give them all time on screen, and leave room for The Doctor and any supporting characters too. Janet Fielding manages well with the narration, keeping it interesting and engaging. However, her impersonations of her co-stars aren't anything to really speak of. But then again, only Anthony Ainley, with his distinct laugh, had anything really distinctive to latch onto. This story's still enjoyable, you just have to listen carefully to scenes involving Adric, Nyssa and The Doctor together or in a pair. Tim Beckmann makes a wonderful supporting actor as Houdini, managing to wonderfully potray the great escape artist's tourtured soul, and the idea that he was always putting on a show. There both ably supported by John Ainsworth's direction and Simon Hunt's sound design and music. Although spartan, it's rendolent of the era.
Smoke And Mirrors is a story that twists, turns and decives it's audience. It's a story where close attention needs to be payed to understand excactly what's going on and it's a story that demands a second listen to truly get your head around it. However, you get you money's worth and it's a strong entry into this celebratory series.
TARDIS Rating - 7/10
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