Chapter 26
The Play's the Thing
(...Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King.) Yet
another sneaky Hamlet reference in the chapter title. But it's
the Danish play in reverse, as the Doctor gets targeted in the
role of villain and a piece of theatre comes a bit too close
for comfort. Or so Glospin hopes.
Twenty years ago, when I was writing articles for such
luminaries as Stephen James Walker, David Howe and Gary
Russell, I used to say that the Fifth Doctor was the only one
you'd feel comfortable inviting home for tea. The rest would
be an absolute (and joyous) nightmare. That was years before
Sylvester arrived, but here he is proving the point. This is
the Doctor as subversive, the way I like him. No wonder his
Cousins find him so deeply aggravating and embarrassing. He's
perfectly capable of behaving himself, but like the little boy
in the Duchess's lullaby, "he only does it to annoy, because
he knows it teases." Even the Fifth Doctor isn't so
house-trained these days.
Gallifrey's most dysfunctional family: Surely the Doctor
can't be comparing Springfield's finest family to his own?
Marge may have the equivalent of Innocet's hair, but otherwise
the Simpsons are paragons of virtue in comparison.
I wanted the Family to have something really interesting
for this festive dinner. That's probably why Ace, sorry
Dorothée, went to Marks and Spencers.
Hoorah for Satthralope. No enemy of the Doctor could ever
set about him the way she does. It's that family thing again.
The little (or rather big) puppet play is another chance
for a resume of the history of Rassilon's coming to power,
with guest appearances from the other two members of his
ruling triumvirate, Omega and ...the Other. The play is a
hangover from Gallifrey's more culturally exotic past, before
the Time Lords' grey bureaucratic, civil service mentality set
in. It's all deeply symbolic and colourful in a heady mix of
styles from Kabuki and Bunraku puppet theatre to Morris
dancing and the York Mystery plays. I've filled out some of
the stage details since the first performance in the book
version, including an extra dance routine and some more
pointed audience reaction. Next year it visits the Edinburgh
Festival, before a short season at Sadler's Wells.
