Three's a Crowd (audio story): Difference between revisions

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{{title dab away}}
{{title dab away}}
{{real world}}
{{real world}}
{{Infobox Story
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image=Threes a Crowd cover.jpg  
|image = Threes a Crowd cover.jpg  
|range          = Main Range
|range          = Main Range
|number in range = 69
|number in range = 69
|series=''[[Main Range]]''
|series = ''[[Main Range]]''
|number= 69  
|number= 69  
|doctor= Fifth Doctor
|doctor= Fifth Doctor
|companions= [[Peri Brown|Peri]], [[Erimem]]  
|companions= [[Peri Brown|Peri]], [[Erimem]]  
|enemy=[[Khellian]], [[Makra'Thon]]
|enemy = [[Khellian]], [[Makra'Thon]]
|setting= [[Phoenix (planet)|Phoenix]], ''[[Medusa (space station)|Medusa]]'', [[2885]]
|setting= [[Phoenix (colony)|Phoenix]], ''[[Medusa (space station)|Medusa]]'', [[2885]]
|writer= [[Colin Brake]]
|writer= Colin Brake
|director= [[Gary Russell]]  
|director= [[Gary Russell]]  
|producer = [[Gary Russell]] and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
|producer = [[Gary Russell]] and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
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|cover = [[Stuart Manning]]
|cover = [[Stuart Manning]]
|publisher= Big Finish Productions  
|publisher= Big Finish Productions  
|release date= [[May (releases)|May]] [[2005 (releases)|2005]]
|release date= May 2005
|format= 4 Episodes on 2 CDs  
|format= 2 CDs<br/>Download
|production code= [[List of production codes|6Q/G]]  
|production code= [[List of production codes|6Q/G]]  
|isbn= ISBN 1-84435-144-0
|isbn= ISBN 978-1-84435-144-2 (physical)<br/>ISBN 978-1-78178-776-2 (digital)
|prev= Catch-1782 (audio story)  
|prev= Catch-1782 (audio story)  
|next= Unregenerate! (audio story)
|next= Unregenerate! (audio story)
|made prev = Unregenerate! (audio story)
|made prev = Unregenerate! (audio story)
|made next = The Council of Nicaea (audio story)
|made next = The Council of Nicaea (audio story)
|epcount = 4
}}{{audio stub}}
}}{{audio stub}}
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the sixty-ninth story in [[Big Finish Productions|Big Finish]]'s [[Main Range|monthly range]]. It was written by [[Colin Brake]] and featured [[Peter Davison]] as the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Nicola Bryant]] as [[Peri Brown]] and [[Caroline Morris]] as [[Erimem]].
'''''{{StoryTitle}}''''' was the sixty-ninth story in [[Big Finish Productions|Big Finish]]'s [[Main Range|monthly range]]. It was written by [[Colin Brake]] and featured [[Peter Davison]] as the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Nicola Bryant]] as [[Peri Brown]] and [[Caroline Morris]] as [[Erimem]].


It sits almost exactly in the middle of the run of stories featuring the former [[Pharaoh]] Erimem. Released in May 2005, it was the first audio written by Brake, who had authored several ''[[Doctor Who]]'' novels. It featured 1960s television regular [[Deborah Watling]] in a new role.
It sits almost exactly in the middle of the run of stories featuring the former [[Pharaoh]] Erimem. Released in May 2005, it was the first audio written by Brake, who had authored several ''[[Doctor Who]]'' novels. It featured 1960s television regular [[Deborah Watling]] in a [[Auntie (Three's a Crowd)|new role]].


''Crowd'' explores the [[George Orwell|Orwellian]] theme of individuality and conformity. Indeed it can be viewed as a pastiche of ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'', in the same way that ''[[The Brain of Morbius (TV story)|The Brain of Morbius]]'' is an homage to ''[[Frankenstein]]'' and ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]'' evokes ''[[King Kong]]''.
''Crowd'' explores the [[George Orwell|Orwellian]] theme of individuality and conformity. Indeed it can be viewed as a pastiche of ''[[Nineteen Eighty-Four]]'', in the same way that ''[[The Brain of Morbius (TV story)|The Brain of Morbius]]'' is an homage to ''[[Frankenstein]]'' and ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]'' evokes ''[[King Kong]]''.


A major subplot is of Erimem recovering from the unpleasant experiences of ''[[The Roof of the World (audio story)|The Roof of the World]]''. Indeed, the opening TARDIS interior scenes share some common beats with [[Tegan]]'s opening scenes in both ''[[The Visitation (TV story)|The Visitation]]'' and ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'' as she struggled to deal with [[Mara]] encounters in the previous stories. Erimem's disquiet, however, isn't just mentioned in the opening episode and then forgotten; rather it's a comparatively more complex part of ''Crowd''{{'}}s narrative. It also reaches all the way back to ''[[The Eye of the Scorpion (audio story)|The Eye of the Scorpion]]'', and at last addresses the way in which Peri effectively forced Erimem into the TARDIS and onto an apparently unenthused Doctor.
A major subplot is of Erimem recovering from the unpleasant experiences of ''[[The Roof of the World (audio story)|The Roof of the World]]''. Indeed, the opening [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] interior scenes share some common beats with [[Tegan]]'s opening scenes in both ''[[The Visitation (TV story)|The Visitation]]'' and ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'' as she struggled to deal with [[Mara]] encounters in the previous stories. Erimem's disquiet, however, isn't just mentioned in the opening episode and then forgotten; rather it's a comparatively more complex part of ''Crowd''{{'}}s narrative. It also reaches all the way back to ''[[The Eye of the Scorpion (audio story)|The Eye of the Scorpion]]'', and at last addresses the way in which Peri effectively forced Erimem into the TARDIS and onto an apparently unenthused Doctor.


As the title suggests, the story is in some ways about whether the Doctor and Erimem really want to travel together and [[Peri Brown|Peri]]'s struggle to stabilise them all into a coherent, three-person "TARDIS team". However, the title has a double meaning. It also refers to the people whom the Doctor and his friends meet. Made acutely agoraphobic by the rules of their society, it's intensely difficult for even two of them to physically meet. For them, three is very definitely a crowd.
As the title suggests, the story is in some ways about whether the Doctor and Erimem really want to travel together and [[Peri Brown|Peri]]'s struggle to stabilise them all into a coherent, three-person "TARDIS team". However, the title has a double meaning. It also refers to the people whom the Doctor and his friends meet. Made acutely agoraphobic by the rules of their society, it's intensely difficult for even two of them to physically meet. For them, three is very definitely a crowd.
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On an almost lifeless [[planet]] in a remote [[star system]], [[Earth]] [[Colony]] [[Phoenix (colony)|Phoenix]] is struggling to survive. The colonists, utterly dependent on [[transmat]] technology and unable to leave the security of their [[Habitat Dome]]s, have developed severe [[agoraphobia]]... not to mention an inability to deal with visitors...
On an almost lifeless [[planet]] in a remote [[star system]], [[Earth]] [[Colony]] [[Phoenix (colony)|Phoenix]] is struggling to survive. The colonists, utterly dependent on [[transmat]] technology and unable to leave the security of their [[Habitat Dome]]s, have developed severe [[agoraphobia]]... not to mention an inability to deal with visitors...


The [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] crew arrives on an apparently abandoned [[space station]] in orbit above the planet and soon discover that they and the remaining colonists are in the gravest danger.
[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] crew arrives on an apparently abandoned [[space station]] in orbit above the planet and soon discover that they and the remaining colonists are in the gravest danger.


To survive, the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Peri Brown|Peri]] and [[Erimem]] must uncover the colony's darkest secrets before it is too late.
To survive, the [[Fifth Doctor]], [[Peri Brown|Peri]] and [[Erimem]] must uncover the colony's darkest secrets before it is too late.
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* [[Erimem]] - [[Caroline Morris]]
* [[Erimem]] - [[Caroline Morris]]
* [[Auntie (Three's a Crowd)|Auntie]] - [[Deborah Watling]]
* [[Auntie (Three's a Crowd)|Auntie]] - [[Deborah Watling]]
* General [[Makra'Thon]] - [[Richard Gauntlett]]
* [[Makra'Thon|General Makra'Thon]] - [[Richard Gauntlett]]
* [[Butler (Three's a Crowd)|Butler]] - [[Charles Pemberton]]
* [[Butler (Three's a Crowd)|Butler]] - [[Charles Pemberton]]
* [[Bellip]] - [[Lucy Beresford]]
* [[Bellip]] - [[Lucy Beresford]]
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* [[Khellian Queen]] - [[Sara Carver]]
* [[Khellian Queen]] - [[Sara Carver]]


== References ==
== Crew ==
 
* Cover Art - [[Stuart Manning]]
* Director - [[Gary Russell]]
* Music and Sound Design - [[David Darlington]]
* Producers - Gary Russell and [[Jason Haigh-Ellery]]
* Writer - [[Colin Brake]]
 
== Worldbuilding ==
* Peri wants to take Erimem on a [[roller coaster]] ride.
* Peri wants to take Erimem on a [[roller coaster]] ride.
* Phoenix was founded in [[2835]].
* Phoenix was founded in [[2835]].
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== Notes ==
== Notes ==
* This audio drama was recorded on [[26 January (production)|26 January]] and [[3 March (production)|3 March]] [[2005 (production)|2005]] at [[The Moat Studios]].
* This audio drama was recorded on [[26 January (production)|26 January]] and [[3 March (production)|3 March]] [[2005 (production)|2005]] at [[The Moat Studios]].
* The sound effects used for the teleport are those previously used in ''[[Blake's 7]]''.
* The sound effects used for the teleport are those previously used in ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]''.
* Behind the scenes footage of the production of this story was featured in episode 1x12 of ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]].''
* Behind the scenes footage of the production of this story was featured in episode 1x12 of ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]].''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* The TARDIS' pool is still frozen over. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Roof of the World (audio story)|The Roof of the World]]'')
* The TARDIS's pool is still frozen over. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Roof of the World (audio story)|The Roof of the World]]'')
* Since ''[[The Axis of Insanity (audio story)|The Axis of Insanity]]'', [[Erimem]] has received a [[TARDIS key]] and begun to wear it, as she says, "around her neck, as usual". It was a central plot point of ''Axis'' that she did not then have a TARDIS key.
* Since ''[[The Axis of Insanity (audio story)|The Axis of Insanity]]'', [[Erimem]] has received a [[TARDIS key]] and begun to wear it, as she says, "around her neck, as usual". It was a central plot point of ''Axis'' that she did not then have a TARDIS key.
* Peri refers to [[Janine Foster|her mother]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Reaping (audio story)|The Reaping]]'')
* Peri refers to [[Janine Foster|her mother]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[The Reaping (audio story)|The Reaping]]'')
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{{BFA monthly}}
{{BFA monthly}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
[[Category:Fifth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Fifth Doctor audio stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2885]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2885]]

Latest revision as of 03:48, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

audio stub

Three's a Crowd was the sixty-ninth story in Big Finish's monthly range. It was written by Colin Brake and featured Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown and Caroline Morris as Erimem.

It sits almost exactly in the middle of the run of stories featuring the former Pharaoh Erimem. Released in May 2005, it was the first audio written by Brake, who had authored several Doctor Who novels. It featured 1960s television regular Deborah Watling in a new role.

Crowd explores the Orwellian theme of individuality and conformity. Indeed it can be viewed as a pastiche of Nineteen Eighty-Four, in the same way that The Brain of Morbius is an homage to Frankenstein and Robot evokes King Kong.

A major subplot is of Erimem recovering from the unpleasant experiences of The Roof of the World. Indeed, the opening TARDIS interior scenes share some common beats with Tegan's opening scenes in both The Visitation and Mawdryn Undead as she struggled to deal with Mara encounters in the previous stories. Erimem's disquiet, however, isn't just mentioned in the opening episode and then forgotten; rather it's a comparatively more complex part of Crowd's narrative. It also reaches all the way back to The Eye of the Scorpion, and at last addresses the way in which Peri effectively forced Erimem into the TARDIS and onto an apparently unenthused Doctor.

As the title suggests, the story is in some ways about whether the Doctor and Erimem really want to travel together and Peri's struggle to stabilise them all into a coherent, three-person "TARDIS team". However, the title has a double meaning. It also refers to the people whom the Doctor and his friends meet. Made acutely agoraphobic by the rules of their society, it's intensely difficult for even two of them to physically meet. For them, three is very definitely a crowd.

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

On an almost lifeless planet in a remote star system, Earth Colony Phoenix is struggling to survive. The colonists, utterly dependent on transmat technology and unable to leave the security of their Habitat Domes, have developed severe agoraphobia... not to mention an inability to deal with visitors...

The TARDIS crew arrives on an apparently abandoned space station in orbit above the planet and soon discover that they and the remaining colonists are in the gravest danger.

To survive, the Fifth Doctor, Peri and Erimem must uncover the colony's darkest secrets before it is too late.

Something inhuman is stalking the colony...

...and it's hungry!

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]