Review

TITLE: Dr Who Live

VENUE: Sheffield Arena

By ANDREW HIRST

STAGING such a popular high-tech sci-fi TV classic was always going to be a problem.

This is the first time the BBC has put on a Dr Who stage show and it is missing one very vital ingredient – that’s Dr Who himself live on stage.

The special effects can never live up to the visual trickery of computer-generated TV.

Okay, he’s cleverly weaved into the plot shown in his Tardis rushing to save the world – well, the arena audience – from all his arch enemies.

The good doctor appears on a massive screen talking directly to the audience and Matt Smith does the role well – in fact he probably comes across even better than on the telly.

Later on he is transformed into a small box on stage as he’s caught up on the baddy’s ‘minimiser’.

Baddy the Magnificent Vorgenson is played by Nigel Planer – no longer a Young One. He does his best with a somewhat lack-lustre script.

After a slowish start, things pick up and as each of the monsters are brought into the plot they run up and down the stadium frightening the smaller members of the audience and putting a wry grin on the rest.

They include the scarecrows, Weeping Angels, Judoon and Ood.

There are flashbacks through all the other doctors on the big screen and the cheer tells you which is the most popular by far.

It is, of course, David Tennant.

There are pyrotechnics, bangs, flashes, good use of lighting and an orchestra on stage.

If nothing else it shows the youngsters the value of live music but you can’t forget they are there and things get a little crowded when the daleks appear for a final decisive battle scene with the cybermen.

Drinks are confiscated from people arriving at the arena ‘for security reasons’ yet you can buy a coke for a whopping £2.50, programmes are £10, cybermen masks £5 and T-shirts £20.

We ate and drank on the way home.

Tickets for the two-hour performance range from £25 to £38.50 plus booking fee.

The show will be at Manchester Evening News Arena from October 22 to 24 and Liverpool Echo Arena on November 2 and 3.

For these prices people would be right to expect the doctor live.

And if it’s down to cost, the band could go to allow more cash for special effects and the great man himself.