1 episode. Running Time: Approx. 18 minutes. Written by: Jamie Hailstone. Directed by: Nicholas Briggs, Ken Bentley. Produced by: David Richardson. Performed by: Katy Manning.
THE PLOT:
A young boy suffers a punctured tire while riding his bicycle home from the shop. Times are hard, leaving no money for a new tire, so the boy has been patching it to stretch out its lifespan - but this puncture is beyond repair.
Then a bright yellow roadster approaches. The driver stops, and the boy recognizes him as his father's tenant: the Doctor, who rents out a small croft every year. The Doctor offers to take the boy to the croft, promising to repair his tire. With his father's assurance that this is no stranger but "a true gentleman," the boy agrees.
Then there's a knock at the door - a visitor with green skin who demands to see Doctor, and who won't take "no" for an answer!
CHARACTERS:
The Third Doctor's natural authority is emphasized; but because he's interacting with a child, we see only his kindest side, with none of the brusqueness. Despite appearing middle aged, the boy is startled to see the Doctor jumping out of his car with youthful energy. When the boy sees the TARDIS and wonders how the Doctor got it into the croft when it's taller than the door, the Doctor draws an analogy with a ship in a bottle before pointing out that while he could go into more detail, that wouldn't fix the bicycle tire.
Katy Manning does her usual fine job of capturing the overall persona of Jon Pertwee's Doctor. She also does well with the child, putting on a country accent that suits both the young character and the narration.
THOUGHTS:
The Third Doctor's tale from the first Big Finish Short Trips anthology, A True Gentleman provides a small-scale piece that spotlights the most likable aspects of the main character. Atmosphere is strong, with the well-written narration and Katy Manning's reading emphasizing the country setting and the narrator's youth. There's just enough incident for there to be a story, but nothing here calls for additional time.
And... there's really not much to say beyond that. This is a thoroughly pleasant minor work that makes good use of its short running time. The Third Doctor is well captured; the story is well-written and well performed; and the entire piece is enjoyable.
Overall Rating: 7/10.
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