Doctor Who and the Pirates is a story that is totally different from any other story in Doctor Who. A musical that is more of a comedy than science fiction but does have some Sci-Fi elements. I like how it has an alternative name of “The Lass That Lost A Sailor” as it somehow give a different impression of this story. It’s the second to written by Jacqueline Rayner who wrote The Marian Conspiracy (2000). Its also the first story to be directed by Barnaby Edwards.
This story is a parody in many ways of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. It starts of with Evelyn visiting a student and there was a moment where it could have been set after she leaves the Doctor but that illusion is smashed when the Doctor comes bumbling in. Bumbling, slightly exaggerated characters are rife through this story. Red Jasper (Bill Oddie) is perfect example cause he is the sort of baddie that you would see in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, the type of baddie that we are comfortable with.
Colin Baker thrives in this story. His singing abilities were just a joy to listen to. The highlight was the Gallifreyean Buccaneer song. I could listen to it for ages and that’s what makes this story so great. If you take the songs out of this story then you have a story that would make for a nice ITV drama/comedy. We have Sally who is our link to this story and she usually jumps in with logical lines about how ridiculous the story is. There are two deaths in this story that make story work. Firstly there is the death of Jem which is the reason Evelyn is telling this story and then there is the death of Sally’s boyfriend.
This isn’t your typical Doctor Who story and it certainly was a bold move for Big Finish to take but I have to admit that it works. Both Baker and Stables does a great tongue-in-cheek job and seem to enjoy themselves. Also the guest appearance of Bill “The Goodies” Oddie was a great choice because of his eccentricity and history in comedy more than suitable for this story.
This story is a parody in many ways of Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance. It starts of with Evelyn visiting a student and there was a moment where it could have been set after she leaves the Doctor but that illusion is smashed when the Doctor comes bumbling in. Bumbling, slightly exaggerated characters are rife through this story. Red Jasper (Bill Oddie) is perfect example cause he is the sort of baddie that you would see in the Pirates of the Caribbean films, the type of baddie that we are comfortable with.
Colin Baker thrives in this story. His singing abilities were just a joy to listen to. The highlight was the Gallifreyean Buccaneer song. I could listen to it for ages and that’s what makes this story so great. If you take the songs out of this story then you have a story that would make for a nice ITV drama/comedy. We have Sally who is our link to this story and she usually jumps in with logical lines about how ridiculous the story is. There are two deaths in this story that make story work. Firstly there is the death of Jem which is the reason Evelyn is telling this story and then there is the death of Sally’s boyfriend.
This isn’t your typical Doctor Who story and it certainly was a bold move for Big Finish to take but I have to admit that it works. Both Baker and Stables does a great tongue-in-cheek job and seem to enjoy themselves. Also the guest appearance of Bill “The Goodies” Oddie was a great choice because of his eccentricity and history in comedy more than suitable for this story.
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