"Scherzo"
by Robert Shearman

In Neverland, Charley Pollard and the Eighth Doctor confessed to loving one another. This was pretty much ignored, allowed to pass without being flagged up as something particularly unusual. The following story, Zagreus, also made little mention of the depth of the relationship between the two, despite some fairly strong character scenes. As the third season of adventures starring Paul McGann and India Fisher begins, it's time for their feelings to come to the fore, in an emotionally-intense two-hander.

Scherzo, by the ever-popular Robert Shearman (who also penned the stunning Chimes of Midnight), is the traumatic first adventure for the pair in the new universe where they're now trapped. When they lose the TARDIS, they find themselves alone and deprived of their senses, able only to talk to one another and hold hands. Lacking any sort of external stimuli, they lose track of time, walking endlessly onwards in what appears to be some sort of experiment, with their long journey broken by a series of increasingly-evolved life forms for food, and a mysterious sound creature which sometimes sees fit to eat their flesh.

First of all, it's important to highlight just how significant this play is. In light of the New Series, and companions such as Rose Tyler and Martha Jones, it's easy to forget how different things were in older episodes regarding companions and their relationships with the eponymous Time Lord. Scherzo is a product of the Classic Series, where companions twist their ankles and win badges for mathematical excellence and very little else. Charley Pollard admitting to loving the Doctor, then, is a very brave and exciting move, and it's one that Shearman handles well. The strength of the characters' relationship is really put to the test, especially when the Doctor reacts so inhumanly to Charley's confession of her feelings, and the writing of both leads is sensitive and believable, not to mention heart-breaking.

The performances of India Fisher and Paul McGann are also a contributing factor in the strength of this play. They've both contributed so much to every play they've starred in together, but nonetheless I still had concerns that they could carry a four-episode story by themselves; however, these fears were shown to be unfounded, as both actors give their best efforts yet. The Doctor swings from bitterness and confusion to sympathy and strength, unsettling the listener just as much as he does Charley, and Paul McGann plays both ends of the spectrum with skill. Fisher makes it impossible not to feel sorry for Charley, and if you haven't engaged with her character much before, you'll probably find it impossible not to do so here.

Logistically, though, the fact that only two characters feature in Scherzo could have caused some problems, but the writer cleverly dodges the need for much Brigadier-esque talking-to-yourself exposition by depriving the Doctor and Charley of sensory input. They have to relay their experiences to one another, and to the audience, by describing them, and the brilliance of both the writer and the performers means that this is gripping and intriguing.

As with Embrace the Darkness, the audio medium is really used to the story's advantage, and the sound creature is a perfect example of this. It wouldn't work in any other medium - and it really does work, presenting a fascinating puzzle which is gradually solved, as well as being a legitimate and disturbing threat. The sound design is pitch-perfect in realising the monster, and its loud bursts of noise will catch you off-guard. Shearman's script has moments that are every bit as chilling as Chimes was, but in a completely new and different way. The Doctor and Charley's calm acceptance of their situation, which is far too open and cheerful to be described as a mere resignation, makes for one of the most unnerving scenes.

Arguably, Scherzo is even more experimental than Zagreus, in terms of how it shakes up the format and the characters. Whereas the previous play radically altered the situation and setting for the Eighth Doctor's adventures, Scherzo messes with the characters in a dramatic way, and there's a strong sense that will never quite be the same again. It's an engrossing and innovative adventure; absolutely splendid stuff.