This
is a continuation of Page 1 of
Undone Series 2.
Episode
4 - Unaccustomed
Carlo tells a
story of Rumour Torture, a very nice suit
and heights he’d go to for his magazine.
Starring Duncan Wisbey, Alex Tregear, Ben Moor, Rae Baker, Jot Davies, Kevin Eldon
It’s always nice to shake a format up a little. Undone is definitely Edna’s story and she tells it very well, but the narration technique stops us seeing things from another character’s perspective. Carlo makes a perfect substitute in this episode, getting totally caught up in Edna’s adventure and turning into a James Bond figure. He gets a new suit, is given a mission, meets a beautiful woman, has an exquisite meal, and it all climaxes at the top of a skyscraper. We recorded the office backroom in a bathroom (the acoustics were excellent) and took the cast to a roof in Bloomsbury for the climactic scene on the Bell Handle. Again this was blocked for real with various actors in various positions around the roof. We didn’t do the fall for real though.
Jot Davies was great as the Faceless Bureaucrat – you could really believe he needed to know those blind items - and made an appropriately gloomy goth doctor. We were thrilled that Rae Baker took time out from Dirty Dancing to play Undone Daphne, and Kevin’s Prince and Alex’s Edna were great as ever. But big kudos go to Duncan. His lovely tone and sweet giggles were givens, but he told the story so nicely too. We were going to put Carlo in a coma for an episode or two, but he’s just too good to lose. Still, Edna’s guilt for having got Carlo involved sets us up for the next couple of episodes. Oh, and my favourite comic book shop Gosh! makes an appearance in this one; it’s opposite the British Museum and it's smashing!
First broadcast -
BBC 7 - 10th February 2008
Episode
5 - Unwelcome
A trip home
to Towcester and her Mum should give
Edna a break. But there’s a fete to
organise and Tankerton has a mission of
his own.
Starring Alex Tregear, Ben Moor, Duncan Wisbey and Emma Kennedy.
The first episode set outside of London or its parallel cities. Edna had been having a hard time lately and it’s been six months since she moved away from Towcester so it was time to give her a welcome home. Things don’t quite turn out that way though. Tankerton is still after the pieces of the Prince’s gem and can’t understand why Edna doesn’t share his keenness to fulfil the mission. The pace is deliberately slower here, there are flashbacks, moments when Edna is alone again for a while. We recorded virtually all of it outside in the sunshine of a lovely July afternoon; the tree scene at the end of the garden.
Emma Kennedy’s Rosie returning was always going to happen in series 2, but rather than her coming back to London having Edna go home to see her served the story better. She has more secrets to tell Edna, but the details given here and the revelation about Edna’s powers come at a good moment for the overall story. And with the final piece of the gem being discovered this sets up the final episode quite nicely. I was pleased with the way this script mixed the monologue sections with the action, the flashbacks and the arc story – something I don’t always feel I do successfully. We had a lot of fun recording this one (I think it was our first day of production) and Alex played the young Edna beautifully, the tired Edna cleverly, and the reveals towards the end, note-perfect. I’m sorry if I’m always gushing about the actors but it is a simple pleasure to work with people who ‘get’ a work like Undone so naturally. Also – great music choices once again.
First broadcast - BBC 7 - 17th February 2008
Episode
6 - Unification
Everything and everyone comes together at Tankerton and Ida’s wedding. But whose side will Edna take?
Starring Alex Tregear, Ben Moor, Duncan Wisbey, Sophie Duval, Kevin Eldon and John Dougal.Series two ends with a twist (that you might have been seen coming) and an extra twisty twist twist that nobody would have. This episode refers back to pretty much every episode of both series and there are mentions of virtually everybody Edna has come across since day one. Hence the title - still an "un" word but with a twist. But there’s also a story to be told and while it’s sort of traditional to do a series finale with a wedding, nothing quite goes to plan. We recorded the church scenes at an actual church (see photo) and Duncan played some typically inappropriate wedding tunes on the organ. John Dougal (another superb actor from the Radio Drama Company) played the Rev Enver marvellously. We did the chase that ended up in the square beside the Grand union Canal, provoking a certain amount of interest from some kids who deliberately made noises when we were recording. Tut!
Well that was series two. Everything you thought you knew was wrong. Well everything Edna thought she knew – you probably worked it out, she had to take Conspiriton. And even then Tankerton has to do a big speech explaining it all. But the clues had always been there. Edna maybe shouldn’t have believed everything she had been told and may be advised not to believe everything the Prince now tells her. . .
The drugs dealer returns, giving Duncan’s magnificent Mexican accent another outing. Sophie is funny and touching as Ida, especially with her inspirational moment towards the end. Kevin is just brilliant as he was in all his scenes this series. Me, I’m OK. But the star is really Alex. Narrating a story and acting comedy in scenes aren’t the same thing, but she did such a wonderful job here and over the whole series.
And quite what happens at the end of the party. Well. All I can say is the person that smashes that vase is the same person who was in Tankerton’s flat while Edna was in the wardrobe. Oh and we haven’t seen the last of Tankerton. . .
First broadcast - BBC 7 - 24th February 2008
PICTURES
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