Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Cast: Terry Molloy, Nicholas Briggs, Sean Connolly, Rita Davies, Richard Franklin, Richard Grieve, Scott Handcock, Lizzie Hopley, Rory Jennings, Carolyn Jones, Peter Sowerbutts, Jennifer Croxton, Gary Hopkins, Joseph Lidster, James Parsons, Gary Russell, John Stahl, Andrew Wisher, Lucy Beresford, David Bickerstaff, Sean Carlsen, Daniel Hogarth, Katarina Olsson, Lisa Bowerman, Peter Myles, Toby Robinson.
With the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who just around the corner, it is worth reflecting on what makes the programme such avid viewing and a mainstay of B.B.C. Television schedules since its return in 2005. The programme itself will be hotly debated in over the coming months, which actor performed best in the role, which one had the most charisma, the best companions, writers, directors, storylines and of course the best villain. For many this final section can only be discussed between one of the Doctor’s own people, The Master, portrayed on screen by the gigantic talent of Roger Delgado, the incorruptible evil of Anthony Ainsley and the exceptional talent of John Simm in the revived series and perhaps the only being who can scare viewers and listeners of the Big Finish range, the despotic malevolent and malicious creator of the Daleks, Davros.
Davros is arguably the one being that the Doctor wishes he could destroy once and for all, the menace, the hate, the arrogance and pure racial pride that he displays is everything that viewers and listeners have come to associate with a part of 20th Century history that should never be forgotten or repeated. Davros though, whilst being a despicable being, never the less is a very interesting character in the Doctor Who Universe. From his first appearance in Genesis of the Daleks in 1975, he has captivated and terrified all. Originally portrayed by the excellent Michael Wisher, it is with the Liverpool born actor Terry Molloy who took on the part on television between 1984 and 1988 and again superbly as Big Finish was able to bring him back in various stories including The Juggernauts and the superbly written Jonathan Morris’ script The Curse of Davros alongside the Sixth Doctor Colin Baker.
Until 2006, not much was really known about Davros, what made him such a megalomaniac, a being capable of such unrequited evil, a man that even the Doctor was capable of fearing. Big Finish in 2006 took the story of the evil genius, ‘the king of his own private empire’ and inspired by the I, Claudius television series of the 1970s starring Derek Jacobi, George Baker and Brian Blessed and developed the life before the events of Genesis of the Daleks in the brilliant series I, Davros.
Over four episodes, Davros’ life is explored in detail in stories titled Innocence, Purity, Corruption and Guilt. In the Doctor Who Universe anything is possible and by having these four stories available for the millions of fans it expands the knowledge of one of the most fascinating and most feared tyrants to appear in the history of the show. From his beginnings as a child prodigy of the Council member Lady Calcula, played by the excellent Carolyn Jones, the evil streak starts to evolve and his relationship with his sister and tutor, Magrantine, the corruptible and seemingly malign presence of the wonderful Peter Sowerbutts are easily tossed aside as he assumes the supposed importance that his dominant mother ground out for him as the greatest member of the Kaled race.
The four C.D.s by Big Finish pave the way for the origins of Davros to be explored in great detail, the not so innocent boy of the first part through to the despotic and crippled emotionally as well as physically half man, half machine in the play’s final acts. Terry Molloy excels in the part and revels as he always did as the murderous and calculating Davros. Alongside Peter Myles making a terrific return as Davros’ trusted Lt. Nyder and Lizzie Hopley as Yarvell, the company give all to the imagination in making these set of stories a must have for those who like to know more about the enemies the Doctor has faced throughout his 50 years as an icon of British Science Fiction.
I, Davros is available from Worlds Apart on Lime Street.
Ian D. Hall