SNS: Water Like A Stone

The third of the second season: Water Like A Stone by Nigel Fairs

SAPPHIRE: It's Christmas Eve.
STEEL: Is that relevant?
SAPPHIRE: Only if you haven't brought me a present yet, Steel.

Nigel Fairs presents us with a Christmas present of a Sapphire and Steel play, in the theatre tradition. Which, as far as I can make out, consists of badly written plays and awful music. And lots and lots of padding. Seriously. I could easily have hacked away at this and made it far tighter and fit on only a single disc. Episodes two and three could easily have been compressed, and thus be far less annoying.

And it's not really Christmassy either. Oh, it's set at Christmas Eve, and we get a quick burst of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", but other than that it could be able time of the year (or, if you must, any time during panto season).

I'm trying to think of a good way to summarise the story... the audio opens with setting up the stage... then there's lots and lots of padding, and then it abruptly gets tied up. Hang on, where was the storyagain? Frankly, skim lightly to episode four and that's about all you need.

Aside from the two, as ever, wonderful mains, we also get Lisa Bowerman (who is, I presume, contractually obliged to turn up in every line Big Finish produces) as the new element Ruby, with the power of... song, as far as I can tell. Seriously, just what is her deal? She's only really introduced so that... well, that would be spoilers. And we also get that other regular Nicholas Briggs, playing not to far from his usual role of rather uncomfortable typical man. Still, they have seriously meaty roles, and everyone gets to play something a little different.

The bonus on this disc are some outtakes and a chance to hear the singing without interruptions. Tha's a nice idea, but Dolly's song is something I personally need never hear again.

Overly padded, and not much of a Christmas treat, but... actually, no but. It's probably adequate if you don't realise there's not much going on.