"I FIND THAT CAKE IS AN EXCELLENT SOLUTION TO SO MANY OF LIFE'S PROBLEMS."
This Big Finish Doctor Who listening project seems to be on it's way to becoming a thing. This time, I'm re-listening to a classic early Ole Sixie audio -- only Colin Baker's 3rd audio adventure for Big Finish -- from way back in 2000. I probably haven't listened to this one for about 15 years but it was absolutely as fantastic as I remembered it to be! Besides being a 10 out of 10, THE MARIAN CONSPIRACY is also the introduction of one of the best Doctor Who companions ever: Dr. Evelyn Smythe played by the late great Maggie Stables. The first episode, in which Evelyn is conducting a history class while Ole Sixie's 'device' is beeping annoyingly is priceless; unable to stop the noise, the Doctor is kicked out of Evelyn's lesson. Back in her abode, Evelyn is humming and knitting when Ole Sixie's voice comes through her letter box. Reluctant to let the annoying man in, Evelyn eventually does when Ole Sixie pleads to look at some books she has concerning her distant historical relatives. Oddly, Evelyn's ancestor has disappeared from the history books and a geneology printout; somehow Evelyn's past is being erased! After gathering up her shampoo, toothbrush and ration of cocoa, Evelyn insists she's going with the Doctor to try to find out what is erasing her past and how to stop it. The pair arrive in the Tardis back in Tudor England in order to meet with Queen Elizabeth I -- but they're in for a surprise.
THE MARIAN CONSPIRACY is usually considered one of the best Big Finish adventures of Colin Baker's 6th Doctor and one of the best of the range. This is down to not only the superb writing and directing by Jac Rayner and Gary Russell respectively but also to the absolutely top notch performances of the cast. Anah Ruddin as Queen Mary Tudor gives a wonderful performance ranging through all the sides of this complex character.
But the performance of Colin Baker as the Doctor teamed with the marvelous Maggie Stables as Evelyn can't be topped. As good as I remembered this one to be, it's better. This, I think, is where the new, softer version of the 6th Doctor is first heard to full effect as Colin Baker is allowed to really play Ole Sixie as he wanted to do all along; the bombastic and cranky qualities of Ole Sixie are still there but the character is fully rounded now as Baker brings a lovely warmth to the part as well. Maggie Stables is magnificent from the first few seconds of her first appearance matching Baker toe to toe as if they had been acting together for decades! The two actors were meant to act together. The first episode, particularly the scene in Evelyn's quarters are pure fried gold and I could listen to it on an endless loop forever! After causing her to drop a stitch, Evelyn reluctantly lets this annoying man in to look at her books and Ole Sixie sulkily says "A cup of tea would be nice". Evelyn basically tells the Doctor not to push it. By the first minute, while Evelyn is in the kitchen preparing a cup and the Doctor tries to find a ringing phone amongst all the clutter, Baker and Stables perform together like a veteran comedy team. It's really the height of Big Finish audio and every subsequent pairing of Stables with Baker is classic. We really miss you , Maggie! Of course, the episode 2 travel back to Tudor England amongst the Catholic and Protestant brouhaha and court intrigue also features top notch writing, acting and directing making this one of Ole Sixie's best audio adventures. Colin Baker started strong with Big Finish and has just gone from strength to strength ever since.
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