In Review: Big Finish: Torchwood: Night of the Fendahl

Synopsis: Torchwood vs Monsters!

Marco makes films. You wouldn’t like them. The lighting’s shoddy, the sets are cheap and the sound’s appalling. But there’s an audience for them. Because they’re films in which bad things happen to women.

Marco’s latest venture is based on real events. Events which took place in Fetch Priory many years ago. It’s an anthology piece, and Marco needs one final victim. But the last victim is not who anyone is expecting.

Death has returned to Fetch Priory. And Death is no-one’s victim.

Torchwood contains adult material and may not be suitable for younger listeners

Review: Torchwood: Night of the Fendahl is a marvelous follow up to the classic Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl. Writer Tim Foley retains everything that makes the original story so memorable. However, he also addresses the subtext of the 1977 tale, turning it into a morality play for the modern era.

As seen in the key art, Gwen Cooper is front and center in the story. Foley very cleverly walks the line between providing exposition for new fans and maintaining dramatic irony for listeners of a certain age. As someone familiar with the original story, I appreciated knowing what was actually happening. It lent a Tales From The Crypt quality to the exercise that made the twists at the end even more satisfying.

Eve Myles does a fantastic job playing the various layers of Gwen’s experience. I particularly love the “improvised speech” she delivers before the action kicks off. Actors don’t often get to monologue like that anymore. It sounds as if she had all kinds of fun with it. I also appreciate how well Myles played off her husband Bradley Freegard. They prove there is such a thing as constructive nepotism.

Having Torchwood encounter Doctor Who monsters has been a treat so far. I can’t wait for Captain Jack Harkness to team up with Jo Jones next month!

• You can buy Torchwood: Night of the Fendahl here.

Written By: Tim Foley

Directed By: Scott Handcock

Cast

Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), Bradley Freegard (Phil), Gavin Swift (Derek), Gerald Tyler (Marco), Guy Adams (Ged). Other parts played by members of the cast.

Producer James Goss

Script Editor Scott Handcock

Executive Producers Jason Haigh-Ellery and Nicholas Briggs