DOCTOR WHO AT THE FAB CAFÉ 3
The Fab Café, Portland Street, Manchester
Sunday 2nd May
Review by Brian Gorman
FANS LIKE US, the Wirral-based Dr Who fan group, presented their latest day of sci-fi themed festivities at Manchester’s Fab Café with ex Dr Who COLIN BAKER headlining.
Producer Erica Egerton prides herself on providing relatively low-key affairs aimed at putting the ordinary fans first, and succeeded once more with an all-day event featuring actors, writers, and directors from the hit BBC TV show. Kicking off at 10am, a near capacity crowd were welcomed by popular Scots comedian CHARLIE ROSS, no stranger to the world of Dr Who, as he has acted in several of the audio adventures produced by Big Finish. A natural performer with bags of charisma, Ross had the audience in the palm of his hand in no time. First guest up was actor ALAN RUSCOE, who first appeared as an Auton in the very first episode of the newly rebooted show back in 2005. Ruscoe is a laid-back, unpretentious man with a winning smile and an easy manner. As well as the customary anecdotes about how uncomfortable the costumes were (he also played a gas belching Slitheen and an alien ‘tree person’), there were entertaining tales of acting alongside the intense Christopher Eccleston and the more amiable David Tennant. In last year’s ‘Waters Of Mars’ tv special, he finally got to play the part of a human, only for his character to evolve into a water-gushing alien hybrid. Next up was the immensely charming onstage double act of veteran director GRAEME HARPER and his long-time friend, actor COLIN SPAULL. Harper has the distinction of directing the all-time fan favourite story ‘The Caves of Androzani’ (1984) which saw Peter Davison’s Doctor regenerate into Colin Baker, and he has recently returned to helm episodes of the new series including David Tennant’s swan song ‘The End Of Time’. The two men were childhood friends, and actually acted together in the classic children’s tv series ‘Noddy’ back in the 1950s, with Spaull in the title role, and Harper as his mischievous pal ‘Moonface’. Spaull appeared in ‘Revelation Of The Daleks’ (1985), under Harper’s direction, and was cast again in ‘Rise Of The Cybermen’ (2006) as the sinister Mr Crane. With a wealth of anecdotes covering half a century of working in tv and film, the time flew by. Both men are old-school charmers with a genuine fondness for Dr Who, and seemed to thoroughly enjoy mixing with the fans throughout the day.
Writer ROB SHEARMAN was the first man to bring back the Daleks in the new series, and was a fabulously entertaining speaker, particularly when chronicling the process of writing for his favourite show. Actress SARAH SUTTON, who accompanied The Doctor in the 1980s, chatted about working with a difficult Tom Baker nearing the end of his run, and NICOLA BRYANT, who partnered Colin Baker’s Doctor, dazzled the largely male audience by looking hardly a day older than when she made her debut nearly 30 years ago, in an awfully skimpy bikini.
The announcement of a late cancellation by veteran actor NICHOLAS COURTNEY, (who played ‘The Brigadier’ alongside five different Doctors) due to ill health, brought an expected chorus of groans. Courtney played a hugely popular character, and is a much-loved and respected member of the Dr Who ‘family’, so the disappointment caused by his absence was fully understandable. Nevertheless, the show went on, and Colin Baker’s arrival ensured the excitement levels shot up, as the Time Lord himself was in the house. Guest interviewer Alan Lear, making his Fab Café debut, introduced Baker to the stage in a curiously exuberant and flamboyant manner, and I anticipated another thoroughly entertaining turn from the man who played the sixth incarnation of the time-travelling hero. Unfortunately, a few technical hitches meant the interview had to be scrapped and restarted after just 10 minutes in. The quick-thinking Charlie Ross came to the rescue with the announcement of an impromptu five minute break. One or two boos rang out as an understandably puzzled Mr Baker left the scene, but order was re-established very quickly when Ross introduced local comedian John Cooper to the stage, who immediately broke the ice by quoting Baker’s famous line “Change, my dear. And it seems not a moment too soon”. With a new man asking the questions, Baker effortlessly won over his attentive audience in no time, with his customary charm and rapier wit; evidently much at ease with Cooper’s relaxed, informed and respectful style. There followed a ringing endorsement for new Doctor, Matt Smith, and a variety of humorous exchanges with audience members. A round of the tongue-in-cheek quiz ‘Have I Got Who For You?’ (based on the BBC panel show of a similar name) had compere Phil Ellis testing Baker’s knowledge of the sci-fi series (providing plenty of opportunity for ad-libbing and off the cuff witticisms), and there were charity auctions of books, original artwork, cds and dvds. Merchandise stalls supplied vintage annuals, vinyl recordings, and art prints, while publisher Tim Hirst was on hand with a selection of hot-off-the-press items including Colin Baker’s recent collection of newspaper articles ‘Look Who’s Talking’. Proceedings wrapped up around 6pm, but there was more to come, with an evening of free stand-up comedy from professional performers John Cooper, Dom Woodward and Phil Ellis which rounded the day off perfectly. Here’s to the next one.
