| BLACK ORCHID by Terence Dudley |
| Story 120 Synopsis: The TARDIS lands on the platform of a railway station called Cranleigh Halt. The Doctor is mistaken for a cricketing doctor, and they all proceed to Cranleigh Hall. The Doctor helps with the cricket match with a combination of superb batting and top bowling. After, all are invited to a ball. Nyssa is the double of a girl named Ann Talbot. The Doctor gets stuck in a secret passage, and his costume, the Harlequin, is purloined by someon who then tries to throttle Nyssa. The Doctor finds a dead body, and is escorted back to his room by Lady Cranleigh. He puts on the Harlequin costume, and is then accused of the murder, by Ann. Lady Cranleigh won't alibi him, and he can't prove his innocence. He is taken to the police station, where the TARDIS has been taken. He uses it to prove his identity. Back at the House, the real culprit starts a fire, and then kidnaps Nyssa. He is the missing George Cranleigh, taker of the Black Orchid. He is deranged, but the Doctor talks him into giving Nyssa up (he believed she was his fiance, Ann). In confusion, George plummets off the roof, and dies on impact. Lady Cranleigh gives the Doctor a copy if George's book, Black Orchid. |
| Review:- A short little tale, quite unlike almost any other story I can think of. Most regard this as the only historical made after 1966, but there is a lot more to it than that, and also a lot less. Unusually, the historical setting is fairly irrelevant, insofar as it isn't central to the story. 1925 it may be, but it could be pretty much any time. However, the era is more central than the event. Some have noted the similarities in style between the drama Brideshead Revisited, on TV around this time. As I haven't actually seen that, I can't comment too much, although I see the point being made. The supporting cast are variable. Lord Cranleigh and Sir Robert are charming Englishmen, and the latter helps make Tegan blossom into a 3-dimensional character. Lady Cranleigh is alas more interesting to me as being in the film Up Pompeii! than for her less than stellar role here. Ann Talbot has the unenviable task of looking like Nyssa, and helping with naff dialogue about where Nyssa must come from. Clever display of snobbery, though. To have the same face as someone in a superior class, well! Adric's main contribution is to fill his face at the buffet, and not know the difference between Nyssa and Ann. In this limited role, he gets laughs. The Doctor spends most of pt 1 investiagting a secret passage/priesthole. Then he spends most of pt 2 failing miserably to prove his innocence. Given his cricketing prowess (how cool to be the valiant 11th man scoring 6 after 6 to set up victory), he seems really quite dull in social situations. "I'm known as the Doctor" - I mean, there are better ways to get a message across. Not to mention letting the police in on the TARDIS. Ah well... George Cranleigh's tragedy isn't too well developed, and it rather shows up the slim nature of the story. His death comes as a merciful release, although I don't feel anyone is really interested in helping him. On the whole, I find this negligible as drama, and variable as comedy. |
| Disclaimer: I've seen the video, and I might have read the book. |